Woojebong Observatory

At the southern tip of Geoje Island, in Galgot-ri, an observation deck just below the summit of Woojebong (107 m) gives the closest view from land of Haegeumgang, one of Korea's designated Scenic Sites. A 20–30 minute walk through camellia and pine woods from Haegeumgang village brings you here, so you can take in the rocky islets and the islands of the South Sea without boarding a cruise boat. Entry is free.

Through the camellia woods

The trail starts on a footpath beside the Haegeumgang ticket office and runs about 1 km to the top. Native camellias and pines form a tunnel over the path, and in camellia season fallen red flowers dot the ground. Until a wooden boardwalk was built in February 2012, the ridge was hard for ordinary visitors to climb. Sections of boardwalk alternate with rough ground, so wear comfortable shoes. A military post occupies the summit, which is why the deck sits just below it.

The view

From the deck, the rocky islets of Haegeumgang seem close enough to touch on your left. On clear days you can see Oedo, Seoimal Lighthouse, Daebyeongdae and Sobyeongdae islets and, further out, Maemuldo. A telescope and a photo spot help you pick out the islands. From mid-March to mid-April and mid-October to mid-November, the rising sun can form an "omega" shape as it lifts off the horizon.

What is Haegeumgang?

Haegeumgang is a rocky island designated a Scenic Site in 1971. Its name means "Geumgangsan of the sea", and it is called Geoje Haegeumgang to distinguish it from the Haegeumgang of Geumgangsan in North Korea. Waves and wind have carved its sheer cliffs into countless shapes. Some sights, such as the Cross Cave inside the island, can only be seen from a boat, but for the shape of the whole island and the sea around it, Woojebong is the best viewpoint.

A lost inscription and a film ending

Local tradition holds that the cliff of Woojebong once bore the inscription "Seobul Gwacha", meaning that Seobul (Xu Fu), sent by China's First Emperor to find the elixir of immortality, passed this way. The rock carrying it broke away during Typhoon Sarah in 1959, and the inscription now survives only in the memories of an older generation who saw it.

In the 2022 film Hunt, the final scene in which Park Pyeong-ho meets his fate is set against the very seascape you see from this deck.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes for the walk there and back and the view.
• Opening and fees: open at all times, every day; no entry fee. Park at the Haegeumgang car park.
• Best time: winter to early spring, when the camellias flower, and spring or autumn dawns if you want to try for the "omega sunrise".
• Watch out for: the area lies within Hallyeohaesang National Park, so cooking and camping are prohibited. The sea wind is strong; bring a jacket. If you climb before dawn for the sunrise, the woodland path is dark, so take a torch.
• Nearby: cruise boats from Haegeumgang village let you see the islets from the water and continue to Oedo.
• Information: +82 55-639-4161