Hongdo Island

Some 115 km southwest of Mokpo, Hongdo owes its name, Red Island, to the way its rocks glow at sunset. The whole island is a protected Natural Monument within Dadohaehaesang National Park, and a boat trip around its sheer cliffs and sculpted sea stacks is the heart of any visit.

The island: a rock fortress under full protection

Hongdo is made of reddish quartzite and quartzitic sandstone, its well-developed bedding planes and joints splitting the rock into blocks and towers. It covers 6.47 km², made up of the main island and its islets, and its highest point is Gitdaebong (378 m). The whole island was designated a Natural Reserve in 1965 and incorporated into Dadohaehaesang National Park in 1981, so access outside the villages and designated trails is not allowed. Around 200,000 visitors come each year.

What to see: the Ten Views of Hongdo

A sightseeing boat around the island takes in the rocks known as the Ten Views of Hongdo.

• Nammun Rock: a natural arch in a rocky islet that small boats can pass through; going through it is said to bring luck.
• Silgeumni Cave and Seokhwa Cave: a large cave where legend says a gayageum zither once echoed, and another that glows in many colours when the evening sun shines in.
• Tapseom, Manmulsang and Seulpeunyeo: an islet that looks like a cluster of pagodas, a rock face in which everyone sees different shapes, and rocks tied to the legend of seven orphaned siblings.
• Bubu-tap, Dongnimmun, Turtle Rock and Peacock Rock: among them a rock arch resembling Seoul's Independence Gate and a turtle-shaped rock said to guard the island.

On land

• Gitdaebong: the highest peak, about 1 hour to the summit, with views of Heuksando, Gageodo and the surrounding islets.
• Camellia woods and the sunset viewpoint: camellias colour the island in early spring and yellow daylilies in summer. From the sunset viewpoint you see the red evening glow that gave the island its name.
• Hongdo Lighthouse: a square concrete lighthouse built in 1931, with its original cast-iron staircase preserved inside.
• Pebble beach and village lanes: around the harbour, alleys lined with guesthouses and raw-fish restaurants show everyday island life.

Nearby

• Heuksando: the neighbouring island about 20 km away. Combining the two makes a good two- or three-day trip to the western edge of the archipelago.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: the fast ferry from Mokpo takes about 2.5 hours. Morning ferries usually arrive around 10:30, and sightseeing boats are announced right at the pier. Check the Sinan County ferry information for timetables and cancellations.
• Weather: ferries and sightseeing boats are often suspended in wind and high seas, so leave a spare day in your plans.
• Overnight: to fit in the boat tour, Gitdaebong and the sunset, staying one night on the island works best.
• Rules: areas outside the villages and marked trails are off limits. The whole island is a Natural Monument, so leave rocks and plants where they are.