Korean Job Discussion Forums

[olsanairbase]

I thinking about taking a ferry trip to one of the more distant or remote islands in Korea as a trip.

I was thinking of Hong-do off of the coast of Mok'Po or Uleung-do off the coast of Pohang.


Hong-do (Red Island)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=map


Uleung-do
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=806122&nearBy=tran&


Anyone who has been to either of these islands or knows someone who has and could add input would be great thanks!

[warmachinenkorea]

Ulleong-do is a nice little place. But beware if the weather acts up you can be stuck there for a few days. They cancel the ferries for a little choppy water.

[Louis VI]

I've been to both, westernmost and easternmost isles. They each take about three hours by ferry. Hongdo is the nicer ferry ride because of islands you pass along the way are nice sights, and circling Hongdo is pretty cool with the cliffs and caves and live fish catches turned into instant sushi lunches. But in terms of the islands themselves there is no contest: Ulleungdo is much better. Hongdo is basically a little port with a few restaurants, too steep to be walked and both habitable parts joined only by boat and restricted dangerous path. Ulleungo is much bigger and there is much more to see once you get there. The hills are green unlike much of Korea, grassy in an Irish sort of way, with a nice coastal road you can drive a rental on or take the bus around, getting off at points and staying at plenty of cheap minbak options by the sea. The rocky formations and valleys and even the shrimp boats making a glowing circle late at night, give Ulleungdo a very neat feel. There are waterfalls and a great village that looks European like in terms of picturesque crammed into a little valley type. The food is good and if you like walking and looking around then Ulleungdo will be much more satisfying than Hongdo. You can enjoy Hongdo on a broken ankle.

[chris_J2]

http://beta.trekearth.com/members/ChrisJ/photos/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeongsangbukdo/

http://www.treklens.com/members/chrisJ/photos/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeongsangbukdo/

Good report Loius VI! I have already been to Ulleungdo, but not Hongdo. Some photos I took at Ulleungdo in 2008 in the above links. I want to get a shot of the hole in the rock at Hongdo (Nammunbawi). Maybe Chuseok?

http://rki.kbs.co.kr/src/images/at_tour/tr_e090901_01.jpg

[Fishead soup]

They are both good. Hongdo has only Sashimi restaurants. You can't ever get a burger. Both are tricky during the typhoon season. Check with a Korean friend who can check the forecast first so you know if the ferry will be running.

[olsanairbase]

Very nice pics chris and great info Louis VI.

After the descriptions and the pictures I'm definitely leaning to Ulleung-do. Does Uleung-do have hydrofoil ferries or are they the old slower ferries? In the picture I saw two boats that looked like hydro foils.

[Louis VI]

[chris_J2]

Hydrofoils to Ulleungdo go from Mukho Harbor, which is several km north of Donghae by taxi. (taxis are cheap in Korea). If possible, book the fast catamaran seat in advance, as package tour groups of domestic Korean tourists book all the seats out beforehand. I ended up being waitlisted after being told there were no seats available then was told 5 minutes before departure there was one business class seat left for 55k won. I took it.

There are also ferries from Pohang & other points further south but they take much longer than 3 hours.