Silmido
Encyclopedia
Silmido is an uninhabited island in the Yellow Sea
, off the west coast of South Korea
. It has an area of about .25 km². It lies within the borders of Incheon
metropolitan city, and is about 5 kilometers southwest of Incheon International Airport
. Silmido lies just offshore of the larger, inhabited island of Muuido
, which is connected to the mainland by ferry.
Silmido became historically significant when it was used as the training ground (January 21, 1968 to August 23, 1971) for Unit 684
, a South Korean group meant to assassinate North Korea
n leader Kim Il-sung
in revenge for The Blue House Raid assassination attempt against Park Chung-hee
. Traces of the training facilities can still be seen. Under circumstances that have still not been fully brought to light, the members of the group mutinied and went to Seoul
in 1971, where they were killed or committed suicide
.
, South Korea began training Unit 684, to infiltrate North Korea and kill Kim Il-sung.
The assassination mission was subsequently cancelled. On 23 August 1971, for reasons which remain unclear, the members of Unit 684 revolted, killing most of their guards and making their way to the mainland where they hijacked a bus to Seoul. The bus was stopped by the Army in Daebang-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul and 20 members of the Unit onboard were shot or committed suicide with hand grenades. The 4 survivors were sentenced to death by a military tribunal and executed on 10 March 1972.
destination.
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
, off the west coast of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It has an area of about .25 km². It lies within the borders of Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
metropolitan city, and is about 5 kilometers southwest of Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul national capital area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world...
. Silmido lies just offshore of the larger, inhabited island of Muuido
Muuido
Muuido, also known as Muui Island, is an island in South Korea. It is a small island located south of Yongyu Island, which was joined with Yeongjong Island when the Incheon International Airport was built. Muui Island is visible from the airport...
, which is connected to the mainland by ferry.
Silmido became historically significant when it was used as the training ground (January 21, 1968 to August 23, 1971) for Unit 684
Unit 684
209th Detachment, 2325th Group, commonly known as Unit 684, was a black operation team of Republic of Korea Air Force whose only given task was to assassinate North Korea's premier Kim Il-sung.-Formation:...
, a South Korean group meant to assassinate North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n leader Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
in revenge for The Blue House Raid assassination attempt against Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
. Traces of the training facilities can still be seen. Under circumstances that have still not been fully brought to light, the members of the group mutinied and went to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in 1971, where they were killed or committed suicide
Suicide in South Korea
Suicide in South Korea occurs at the highest suicide rate among the 30 OECD countries, having recently surpassed Japan's rate. The toll of suicide deaths in South Korea has doubled in the last decade....
.
The Blue House Raid
On January 21, 1968, a group of 31 North Korean military soldiers was sent to South Korea by Kim Il-sung to kill President Park Chung-hee. A firefight began when the commandos were just 800 yards from the Blue House (the South Korean Presidential Palace). In all, 68 South Koreans were killed and 66 were wounded, including about two dozen civilians. Three Americans also died and three were wounded.Unit 684
In response to the attempted assassination of Park Chung-heePark Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
, South Korea began training Unit 684, to infiltrate North Korea and kill Kim Il-sung.
The assassination mission was subsequently cancelled. On 23 August 1971, for reasons which remain unclear, the members of Unit 684 revolted, killing most of their guards and making their way to the mainland where they hijacked a bus to Seoul. The bus was stopped by the Army in Daebang-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul and 20 members of the Unit onboard were shot or committed suicide with hand grenades. The 4 survivors were sentenced to death by a military tribunal and executed on 10 March 1972.
Movie
Silmido is well-known today as the principal setting of the 2003 movie of the same name, which is loosely based on the Silmido Incident. Thanks to the movie's success, the island has become a fairly popular touristTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
destination.
See also
- Islands of South Korea
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...
- Tourism in South KoreaTourism in South KoreaTourism in South Korea refers to the tourist industry in the Republic of Korea. In 2007, 6.4 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 36th most visited country in the world, and this number is expected to exceed 8.5 million in 2010. Most non-Korean tourists come from Japan,...
- List of Korea-related topics