Geumdangdo Island

Sheer cliffs ring this island like a fortress wall above the sea. Geumdangdo (about 12.49 km²), in Geumdang-myeon of Wando County, is known for coastal cliffs of columnar and vertical joints, and visitors come by tour boat or on foot to see the Eight Views of Geumdang, carved by waves and wind. It belongs to Wando County, but the ferries actually leave from Goheung and Jangheung.

The Eight Views from the sea

Geumdangdo lies in the stretch of sea between Geogeumdo in Goheung, Yaksando in Wando and Noryeokdo in Jangheung. The cliffs around it are made of tightly packed, vertically split rock columns, so from a distance they look like a giant folding screen or a city wall. The eight finest sights along this coast are known as the Eight Views of Geumdang.

• Byeongpung Rock (Folding Screen Rock): a cliff of vertical rock columns lined up like the panels of a screen.
• Geumdang Red Cliff: named after China's famous Red Cliffs for its striking rock face.
• Fan Rock, Monk Rock, Gyoam Cheongpung and Hangnyeong Sunset: found along the coast of the main island.
• Thatched-Roof Rock and Elephant Rock: on the satellite islets of Junghwado and Daehwado.

Many of the cliffs cannot be seen well from the viewpoints on the island itself. Faces like the Red Cliff, which drop straight into the sea, are best seen from the tour boat that circles the island.

Geumdangdo on foot

• Gyoam Cheongpung trail: from the Sepo village pier, follow the signs for Gama Rock for about 1 km, then the signs marked "scenic spot" to reach Gyoam Cheongpung.
• Sepo Observatory ridge trail: climb about 20 minutes from Sepo village to the Jangmunjae pass, then walk more than 3 km along a mostly level ridge to the observatory, about an hour one way.

An "island worth visiting"

Geumdangdo was chosen for South Jeolla Province's "Islands You Want to Visit" programme, receiving KRW 1 billion a year for five years from 2021, KRW 5 billion in total, which went into trails and village facilities. At the time of selection the island had 987 residents in 538 households, and the Sepo Observatory, Ongeumpo Beach and the coastal road around the island were singled out as its main assets. There are no big resorts here, just trails linking fishing villages where people still live, so it suits travellers who want to walk quietly and look at the sea.

Wando County promotes it as the "gold nugget island", playing on the character for gold (geum) in its name.

Tripto tips

• Ferries: as of 2025, boats ran from Uduhang in Goheung to Ulpo port in about 15 minutes, five times a day. There were six sailings a day from Noryeokdo port in Jangheung (first boat 06:30) and one a day from Nokdong port in Goheung. Timetables change often, so check before you travel.
• No boats from Wando: although the island belongs to Wando County, no ferry runs directly from Wando island itself. Decide on your departure port first when planning.
• Time needed: to combine a trail with the tour boat, allow a full day; to take it slowly, spend a night on the island.
• Weather: ferries and tour boats may be cancelled in strong wind, so check on the day.
• Tour boat: the boat that circles the Eight Views runs to its own schedule and fares, separate from the ferries. Check both timetables in advance to avoid long waits on the island.