Korean Job Discussion Forums

[curiousaboutkorea]

I'm trying to think of ideas from my summer vacation. I want to stay domestic.

I was thinking of going to various islands, particularly ones farther off the mainland. I don't need much excitement; I'm happy just to wander and see new places.


Has any one been to some of the farther out islands? I was looking on Google Earth and saw some and looked into it. Seems like they are accesible, but I don't know how easily.

Here's a few names

Sangtae-do
Manjae-do
Soheugsan-do
Yeoseo-do
Geomun-do/Seo-do/Dong-do/Port Hamilton

Chuja-do (I think it's part of Jeju)
also Gapa-do and Mara-do
near Jeju

If anyone has information on these, or similar islands, I'd love to hear about it. Is there reliable trnasportation? How much? Are there hotels? etc etc.

Thanks

[neil537]

the only one I can comment on on your list is Chuja-Do. It's midway between the Korean Mainland and Jeju, I haven't actually set foot on it, but our ferry stopped there en-route to Jeju from Mokpo in June last year.

(website: http://www.seaferry.co.kr/main.php?m3=s31)

It looked very small, and I would say unless you're into fishing there wouldn't be much to do, maybe worth a night, it had an isolated feel to it that's for sure.

Not sure where you are in Korea but if you're around the Seoul/Gyeonggi area there are a few islands around Incheon that I'd recommend.

Deokjokdo is good in the summer, quite a lot of Westerners head out there at the weekends, you can camp next to the beach, or there's a few pensions/minbaks too.

I also had a great day trip to Sindo/Sido/Modo which are just off the airport island, you can take a ferry from Sammok port near the airport. The planes taking off are a bit annoying, but other than that they have a very quiet feel to them, I hired a bike and cycled about Sido/Modo, really nice and relaxing.

PM if you want any more info.

[curiousaboutkorea]

Thanks for the info. anybody else got the low-down on somewhere?

[VanIslander]

Hongdo: the westernmost island accessible by 3-hour ferry at Mokpo has jagged steep cliffs, nice boat tour around and through caves and shoreline, tasty seafood served at the island stop, scenic trip to and from.!

Bogildo: the ancient poetry on stone place, with three killer beaches too and scenic vistas is well visited and for good reason, reached by ferry from Wando

Shinjido: a bridge to it from Wando was built in 2003 and there's one of the greastest beaches in the country at Myeongsashimni on the north coast of the island. I've been up and down each coast and to hundred-plus beaches and that one rocks for its nature and developed amenities. It really doewn't even feel like one's in Korea, it's that unique.

Ulleungdo: forget Dokdo, this island is worth the trip and is really quite unlike the mainland, even reminds me of Ireland! Great coastal half-road, stunning hikes, ski-village-looking cozy cove town and natural beauty.

Bijindo: a short ferry ride from Tongyeong is: http://enews.kcg.go.kr/upload/article/639377586418873d73fd41bijindo.jpg

Gawd a book ought to be written about Korean Islands & Beaches because there are way more and better ones than most of the million-plus foreign residents of the big cities think!

[curiousaboutkorea]

Thanks a lot! Very helpful!

Were you able to find hotels on all these islands? Any cheap-ish places (45k or less maybe)?

[VanIslander]

[guava]

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/jeollanam-do/heuksando

I recommend Heuksando

[thegreg52]

I'm heading out to Seonyudo this weekend. It's off the western coast, an hor ferry ride from Gunsan. I've found out it has a bunch of small islands connected by smaller bridges. I'm going to rent a bike and ride from island to island and check out the scenery (which I see is gorgeous) and the small fishing villages it boasts. I've read people calling it the Polynesia of Korea.

[anospi]

Ulleungdo is fantastic. I spent four days there in September. Plenty of info and pics on my blog:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/will/6/1254248751/tpod.html
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/will/6/1254433026/tpod.html