Yeosu

Yŏsu,  also spelled Yeosu,  city, South Chŏlla (Jeolla) do (province), on Yŏsu Peninsula, extreme southern South Korea. Such large islands as Namhae, Tolsan (Dolsan), and Kŭmo (Geumo) protect its natural port. The Korean navy headquarters was located there during the Chosŏn (Yi) dynasty (1392–1910) before being moved to T’ongyŏng. With neighbouring Sunch’ŏn, the city was part of the Yŏsu-Sunch’ŏn Rebellion in 1948. In 1949 Yŏsu became an open port with the status of a municipality.

Yŏsu is connected with Seoul by rail through Kwangju (Gwangju) and Taejŏn (Daejeon), and it has regular sea lines to Pusan (Busan), Mokp’o, and Cheju. The harbour is divided into two parts: the old western port is used mainly for fishing, and the newer eastern port for trade. The city exports fresh fish. Petrochemical, oil-refining, and other industries have been developed in the Yeosu Industrial Complex. The city’s harbour and shoreline were the site of Expo 2012, an ecologically conscious world’s fair whose theme was the importance of the world’s oceans and coastlines. Pop. (2010) 269,937.