[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Island hopping in Korea: Shore up your next coastal getaway

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[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Island hopping in Korea: Shore up your next coastal getaway

Published: 04 Oct. 2024, 18:47

KIM DONG-EUN
kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr

Windy Hill in Geoje, South Island [JOONGANG ILBO]

"Between people an island exists. I want to cross over to that island."

"Island (2009)" by writer and reporter Chong Hyon-jong (1939-) stresses that the word “island” can be translated in many ways, according to modern literature taught in Korean schools. Island, no matter how polysemous it may be in the poem, is often used as a metaphor to refer to distancing yourself from mundane life and seeing things from a different view. As autumn unfolds across Korea, fleeing to that "island" may be a unique way to offer a distinct escape from the hustle of city life.

Whether you prefer wandering through ancient temples, trekking along scenic trails or sitting for hours in a cafe, finding your definition of flocking to an island would be an apt activity as the weather changes from unbearable to perfect. Here are some recommendations for islands in Korea to visit this autumn, compiled by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Daebudo and Seonjaedo
대부도와 선재도

The sea view along the trekking trail of Gubong-do at Daebudo in Ansan, Gyeonggi [KIM DONG-EUN]

Among a plethora of islands in Korea, Daebudo in Ansan, Gyeonggi is a friendly destination for those seeking a getaway not too far from the Seoul metropolitan area. Located near Sihwa Seawall in Ansan, Gyeonggi, Daebudo is an island of seafood and local beaches, where you can see a mix of tourist culture and local life. Gubong-do and Nakjo Observatory is one of the trekking trails on the island where you can walk along the sea and face the azure water at the end. Sashimi and soju alongside seafood-infused ramen are typical dinner choices in Daebudo.

Flordeo Coffee Seonjaedo branch in Incheon offers an exotic setting with sea views. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Daebudo and Seonjaedo in Ongjin County, Incheon, are connected by a road accessible by car within minutes. Incheon is home to a total of 168 islands, and Seonjaedo is a find that is easily added to the itinerary when people tour around the islands in Incheon, with spacious, trendy cafes attracting young Koreans for a one-day getaway. While Daebudo presents a rawer, local side of the island, Seonjaedo houses small cafes and individual shops between old shops and stalls. Floredo Coffee Seonjae branch is an example of such modern transformation on the island. With a tropical setting and baked goods, young Koreans and tourists can be found throughout the four-story building.

Floredo Coffee Seonjae branch
354 Seonjae-ro Yeongheung-myeon, Ongjin County, Incheon
(인천 옹진군 영흥면 선재로 354)
Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (closes an hour later during weekends)
Phone number: 032-880-0433

Seonyudo Park
선유도공원

Seonyugyo or Seonyu Bridge is a way to Seonyudo Park in Seonyu Island, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul. [YONHAP]

Seonyudo Park in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, is an ecological park on Seonyu Island. The site used to be a water treatment plant from 1978 to 2000. In April 2002, it was reborn as a park, a modern environmentally friendly getaway around the Han River and a culturally enriching spot. Seonyu Island is accessible by foot from Seonyudo Station, line No. 9, exit 2 in 10 minutes, and 15 minutes from Dangsan Station, lines No. 2 and No. 9.

Cross the Han River's Seonyu Bridge, and you will reach the park entrance where an aquatic plant garden, an ecological forest and neatly groomed gardens appear over time. From the only facility in the park where you can fetch food and beverages, Cafeteria Naru, try out the Hangang ramen at the outdoor table while gazing into the river view — a perfect way to get the most out of the park.

343 Seonyu-ro, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul
(서울 영등포구 선유로 343)
Operating hours: 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Phone number: 02-2631-9368


Udo
우도

Udo Peak in Udo, Jeju City [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Like Jeju, Udo in Jeju City was formed by a volcanic eruption. Udo spans 6.18 square kilometers (2.39 square miles) with a 17-kilometer (10.5 miles) circumference, tucked on the east side of Jeju Island. Although it is the largest of Jeju's 62 islands, its compact scale usually encourages tourists to take a half-day trip at most to explore the entire island. You can reach Udo with a 15-minute ferry ride from Seongsan Port in Seogwipo City, Jeju, with tickets available for on-site purchase for 10,500 won ($8).

Udo Peak or Udo-bong, standing at 132 meters at the southern tip of the island, is one of its top sightseeing destinations. On the northern side, visitors can find a stone fish trap that is heart-shaped from a bird's-eye view, an artificial structure created by stacking rocks. Beaches in Udo vary from Jeju Udo Hongjodangoe Haebin, a beach with red algae that formed rhodoliths on the furthest west side of the island, to Hagosudong Beach along the northeastern coast — the emerald shade of the water is a tourist-attracting element. Another highlight is Biyangdo, or Biyang Island, a tiny island within Udo and just 0.5 square kilometers wide. A 15-minute boat ride from Hallim Port gets you there, where two to three hours of sightseeing reveals sea views and striking rock formations along the trekking course.

Udo-myeon, Jeju City, Jeju
(제주도 제주시 우도면)

Geoje Island
거제도

Windy Hill is one of eight scenic spots in Geoje. [GEOJE CITY OFFICE]

Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang is the second-largest island in Korea, measuring 382 square kilometers. From beaches with smooth pebbles to an exotic botanical garden, Geoje Island is a slowly but steadily rising tourist destination that attracted 23.3 million visitors last year according to the Korea Tourism Organization's Data Lab.

Some major tourist attractions on Geoje are Windy Hill in Nambu-myeon, Gujora Beach and Fortress and Hakdong Mongdol Beach. Windy Hill is one of Geoje’s top eight scenic spots, a charming low hill crowned with a windmill. The breezy, picturesque landscape is on the opposite coast of Sinseondae, an observatory overlooking the sea view and rock formations.

Gujora Beach is a tranquil beach with a typical sight that comes to mind when you imagine a classic beach with soft sands. Gujora Fortress, however, makes the visit to the neighborhood special as it adds a historical touch. Twenty minutes away on foot from the beach, it is often referred to by its longer name, Gujorajinseong Fortress, and appears after a trekking trail along a gentle 274-meter-long course. Murals and colorfully decorated walls are an unexpected part of the journey until a stone fortress sets a grave tone. The fortress was built in 1490 in the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to defend against the Japanese invasion and has now been neatly restored to become a peaceful walking trail along the sea view.

For more exotic finds, stop by Hakdong Mongdol Beach where tiny black pebbles offer a special view and Oedo-Botania, a unique Western-style garden with 1,000 species of nonnative flora.

Geoje-myeon, Geoje City, South Gyeongsang
(경상남도 거제시 거제면 거제도)

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]