Kodao

Kodao (:; Koatao, : 膏道; Kó̤-dàu), officially the Kingdom of Kodao (: ; Valiokatoalai Koatao, : 膏道民國; Kó̤-dàu Ông-kok) is a tiny in east Sinju. The island is located in the straits between Haiheng to the east and mainland Sinju to the west. Haiheng is its closest neigbour at 69 km away. With a land area of only 351 km2 (136 sq mi), Kodao is one of the smallest countries in the world by land area. Kodao has a population of only 87,000 people, making it the 92nd smallest country in the world by population. Due to its small land area and miniscule population, Kodao is regarded as a.

Kodao was first settled in antiquity by Austronesian seafarers from what is now modern-day Tafalong. These first migrations were further supplemented by the arrival of settlers from the north who largely intermixed with the Austronesian peoples and established the island's first. The Chi dynasty, rulers of the kingdom of Hokang unified the islands in the early 14th century, establishing the first unified kingdom of Kodao. The tiny kingdom thrived off maritime trade although its small size meant it was quickly made a tributary state of Vạn Xuân. Kodao was still able to maintain its de jure independence and relevance in regional maritime trade and achieved full independence in 1882.

The Blue-Cloth Rebellion in 1927 brought the end of the in Kodao and the establishment of a. Kodao in the post-revolution years was initially poor and undeveloped, however a series and reforms throughout the rest of the 20th century brought rapid economic development. Although the island lost its relevance as a hub of maritime trade, Kodao instead moved its economy to one based on the. Today, is the biggest contributor to Kodao's economy, with the nation becoming a major  with its many beaches. The country is also widely known for its tourism and boasts a booming gambling industry.

Kodao is a   with a  legislature, the Congress of Tribes. The kingdom is widely regarded as a and its known for its free elections and media. Kodao is a founding member of the Jangjip Council and is also a member of the Association of Southern Jungjuan Nations. In the past century, Kodao has heavily emphasized on its Austronesian heritage and is undergoing a period of cultural revival. The previously near-extinct have been revived and made the official script of the country.

Etymology
The name for the island is derived from the word for an earthenware pot, "koatao", relating to an aboriginal. settlers co-opted the name in the from Kó̤-dàu (膏道).