Korean Job Discussion Forums

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

Thinking about going here for the 4 day weekend in may (childrens' day). Anyone had experiance here? Specifically the Chuson hotel and night life on the island?

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

The island is awesome. Really beautiful. Take the ferry tour that goes around the island. The rugged coastline is breathtaking. Another thing that's fun is walking along the coastline and finding one of these places where you can eat raw shellfish and see the water hit the rocks.

There is not much of a nightlife there althought I saw quite a few foreigners there. Lots of places to sit outdoor and eat raw squid sashimi and drink soju.

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

great trip but you better plan for something else.

i was planning on going back with some friends who hadn't gone but i called the local tourism office last week and they informed me that all ferry tickets from both mukho and pohang have been completely booked through june.

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Head down to Mokpo. There are all kinds of restaurants on the coast offering Sashimi. Then book into a cheap motel. Go to the Ferry terminal early. Try to get a ticket for either Hongdo or Haksando. Sometimes the Ferry in cancelled due to bad weather or a risk of typhoon. In that case you can go to the ferry terminal next door and go to Jeju Island. The Jeju island ferry is less likely to cancel because the ferry is bigger.

Another option go to Kojae Island. Connected by land by bridge so no hassle trying to get on a ferry

SeoulnPepe · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Location: Seoul

I went there two years ago.

It's a beautiful island, and only one road going around the entire place. I believe there's also only one traffic light.

We bought our tickets in Pohang. They managed to get us on board without a reservation. Make sure you take your passport...don't know why, but they needed it, as well as my alien reg. Same thing happened when we went to Jeju...

The view up the highest mountain is amazing...the sea and the sky melt into each other so you can't tell them apart.

Dokdo is a 30 minute ferry ride away, and an interesting place to spend 25-30 minutes.

We stayed in a small cabin-like place situated on a cliff that overlooked the ocean.

We had to cut our trip short due to weather (no ferries run during a storm). We managed to get on the last ferry out without any problems.

My only advice is take your own food, as it can become pricey if seafood is not to your liking. We brought over some Costco Bulgogi, frozen mandu, and some snacks. Made the trip much easier...

They're pretty friendly folk down there.

And once you visit you'll never look at "ojingo" the same way...

Kurtz · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Location: ples bilong me

Can that be confirmed that the ferry is booked solid? does that mean weekdays too? hope not, that's one of the last places in Korea that I haven't been to that's on my hit list.

summer33ny · Joined: 10 Aug 2006

What is the closest ferry to Ulleung-do from Mokpo???

I'm looking to go late July/early August.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Ulleungdo was great, but you'll need to book the ferry tickets in advance. I got lucky on a waitlist. With a Korean friend or coteacher, try:

www.seomticket.co.kr

It was 56,200* won each way from Mukho, in August last year, & I found a good air con motel in Dodong for 100k a night. Forget about exciting nightlife. A new Family Mart opened the day I arrived, & the squid bolgolgi in the adjacent restaurant was v good. There are other meals available if you don't like seafood.

* That may have been business class, which was all that was available.

Here are some pics I took:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeongsangbukdo/Ulleungdo/

http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeongsangbukdo/Ulleungdo/

I think the bus went to Donghae, then you need to get a taxi or local bus to Mukho Harbour?

Once on the island, there is very scenic coastal walk from Dodong to Jeodong, around 3 km walk, from where you can catch a local bus back to Dodong. The local busses go almost right around the island via Jeonbu & run regularly, but the final sector is still under construction so you'll have to return to Jeonbu for a bus back to Dodong. I didn't do the round the island boat cruise but will next time I go back. There's an information stand at Dodong Harbour, with local bus timetables & boat trip to Dokdo info, etc. The Bongnae waterfall was also nice, but no swimming was allowed there. The cablecar in Dodong is another must do.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

If you can wait, I suggest Ulleungdo during winter especially over the New Years holiday.

Bonuses:
1. CHEAP - W25k/night in a 4 room minbak with kitchen, laundry, internet and private bathroom
2. QUIET - my ex and i were two of something like 20 visitors on the island
3. BEAUTIFUL - the snow fall is amazing and getting to ride the tiny little bus up those steep roads with 3 feet of snow was an experience i'll never forget
4. NEW YEARS SUNRISE - you'll be among the first 1% of the world to experience the New Year's sun light and the free dukkgook breakfast on the pier with all the villagers is a quintessential Korean experience.