Ieodo Ocean Research Station (Ieodo ORS) opened in June 2003, and was built to help advance the understanding of the dynamics of the East China Sea, including its influence on Korea’s marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, via the continuous and simultaneous multidisciplinary observation of local air and sea environments.

Ieodo ORS is located 149 km from Marado, at the southernmost tip of Jejudo (commonly referred to in scientific literature as Jeju Island or previously as Cheju Island), southwest of the Korean Peninsula. Its steel-jacket framed tower-type platform was built near the submarine rock named “Ieodo” by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA) has operated this platform since January 1, 2007.

Ieodo ORS stands 36 m in height above the datum level (DL) and consists of a boat landing plus 6 decks (Bottom Deck, Intermediate Deck, Cellar Deck, Main Deck, Roof Deck, and Heli Deck). Most of its meteorological instruments and sensors are installed on the Roof Deck, including two anemometers, one barometer, two air temperature sensors, and two relative humidity sensors. Ocean temperature and salinity have been relatively consistently measured at Ieodo ORS. Aanderaa inductive-type conductivity-temperature (CT) sensors are installed at depths of 5, 17.5, and 38 m throughout the entire year, operating at 1 min sampling intervals by KHOA. Residential facilities and the electrical control room are on the Main Deck, while a seawater desalination system and a diesel generator system are installed on the Cellar Deck.