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 an estimated population of only 87,372 people as of 2020, 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 and established the first unified kingdom of Kodao. The kingdom thrived off maritime trade and played a significant role in the trade networks of Jungju. Due to its small size, however, the kingdom was made a vassal of Vạn Xuân after an invasion in 1709. Despite this, Kodao was still able to maintain its independence and relevance in regional maritime trade  up until it 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 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).

Prehistory
The exact period of time where human beings first appeared in Kodao is unknown. The oldest remains in Kodao have been  to around 30,000 years ago. seafarers arrived in Kodao from modern day Tafalong around 2000 BC and assimilated with the existing human populations of the islands. Kodao is generally recognized to be the northernmost place of Jangjipan settlement. These early inhabitants of the islands developed settlements clustered primarily around the coast, while tribes of lived further inland.

settlers first arrived in Kodao in the 10th century as a result of a southward migration away from Tanghok due to upheaval and social unrest in their homeland. These Tanghokese settlers intermixed with the pre-existing Jangjipan inhabitants of the islands and also established the island's early states. The coastal settlements were developed into centers of and developed into trading  and similar early polities.

By the 12th century, Kodao was home to a mix of polities ranging from the trading principalities on the coast, with warrior societies and hunter-gatherer tribes inhabiting the island's interior. Tanghokese settlers dominated the coastal trading settlements resulting in a from the native Jangjipan  language to. The Tanghokese did not venture into the island's interior, however, due to the hostility of the native inhabitants, allowing for the Kodaoese interior to retain the Dekai language and cultural practices.

Unification
- Unification of the island by Hokang - Significance of Kodao in maritime trade - Invasion by Van Xuan and vassalship - Independence in the 19th century

Geography and climate
With a land area of only 351 km2 (136 sq mi), Kodao is one of the in Tiandi by land area. An island country, Kodao's nearest neighbour is Haiheng 69 km to the east. A mountainous ridge runs through the centre of the island with the tallest mountain being Mount Lan Hoa at 573m (1879.92 ft).

Politics and government
Kodao is a and.