Gageodo Island

Gageodo belongs to Heuksan-myeon in Sinan County, South Jeolla, and is the southwesternmost point of Korean territory. At about 9 km² with a coastline of roughly 22 km it is small, but it is known for steep cliffs, dense forest and sea fishing. It takes more than four hours by fast ferry from Mokpo, so getting there is part of the adventure.

History and name

From the Unified Silla period, ships trading with China stopped at Gageodo on their way. In the Three Kingdoms period it is said to have been called Hageodo. Tradition says a man surnamed Seo first settled here around 1580, and a Lim family around 1800. A Neolithic shell midden was found in 1968 on the slope west of the lighthouse at the northern tip, showing that people lived here very early. The name means "an island fit to live on", but from around 1910, under Japanese rule, it was called Soheuksando. In 2008 it got its original name back as part of an effort to remove colonial-era names.

There are three villages — Dae-ri, Hang-ri and Daepung-ri — and fishing has long been the island's main industry. The Gageodo anchovy fishing songs, once sung while fishing for anchovies, were listed as Intangible Heritage of South Jeolla Province in 1988. In 2023 it was chosen as the first "Island of the Year" by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Native plants such as the Gageo sedge, winter strawberry and a local orchid are another point of pride.

What to see

• Seomdeung Peninsula (Scenic Site): a long peninsula on the west side of the island. Sea cliffs line up like folding screens, and sunsets over the descending ridges are so striking that it was designated a national Scenic Site in 2020.
• Soheuksando Lighthouse: at the northern tip, built as an unmanned light in 1907 and extended into a staffed lighthouse in 1935. Its original foghorn machinery survives, and it became a Registered Cultural Heritage in 2008.
• Doksilsan: the island's highest mountain, reached by a hiking trail from the villages.
• Coastal road and villages: walk the road between Dae-ri and Hang-ri for views of cliffs and harbours.
• The sea: 70.17 km² of sea around Gageodo became a marine protected area in 2012. Rock fishing for species such as striped beakfish and rockfish is famous, and boat tours circle the island. The boat tours take about 2–3 hours. Seaweeds such as gamtae and hijiki, along with many shellfish and sea snails, live in the protected waters.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: take the passenger ferry from Mokpo, which calls at Heuksando and other islands on the way. Sources give the journey time as 4 to 4.5 hours.
• Planning: ferries are often cancelled in bad weather. Plan at least one night and, if possible, a spare day. Always check the timetable before you set off.
• Where to stay: village guesthouses (minbak). Dae-ri is said to be the best place for sunrise.
• What to bring: there are few shops and services, so bring basic medicine, cash and comfortable shoes.