Mara-do is within the administrative boundaries of Daejeong Township (Daejeong-eup) in Seogwipo City, and is included, along with Gapado, in Gapa-ri, and is South Korea's southernmost point.

According to a The Chosun Ilbo article published by Lee Kyu-tae in 1967, the island was first occupied by a woman named Kim Seong-oh (김성오, 金成五) and her brothers in 1880.

They had to circle the island around three times, because they couldn't find a place to dock their boat.

After about 10 years, they were joined by two stranded fishermen from Torishima (도리섬,鳥島), in the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

One Mr. Kim originally living in Daejeong gol, a small village in Jeju, ran through all his fortune.

Due to tidal erosion, the east coast consists of extremely steep cliffs called Gue Jeong by residents.

Their altitude extends to 39m and plants such as Korean cacti and ditch deeds are found here.

[6] There is an elementary school, police station, church, a temple and lighthouse on Marado.

There are solar power plants located on the northern coast of Marado, a scarce sight in South Korea.