Saengildo

Floating in the sea east of Wando, this island is written with the characters for "birthday" (生日), which is why it is known as Birthday Island. A giant birthday-cake sculpture greets you at Seoseong Port, and a coastal trail leads past black pebble beaches, camellia woods and a fine sandy bay. With few visitors, it is a peaceful place to walk and unwind.

About the island

Saengildo lies about 21.6 km east of Wando. Sources put its area at roughly 13.8–15 km², with 28 km of coastline. In the Joseon period it belonged to Jangheung; it became Saengil-myeon when Wando County was created in 1896, was merged into Geumil-myeon in 1914, and regained its status as a separate township in April 1989. Baegunsan, 483 m high, rises in the middle of the island, and most villages sit along the shore. In 2016 it was chosen as one of South Jeolla's "Islands I Want to Visit".

Otters and leopard cats, both endangered, live in the island's woods, and more than 500 plant taxa have been recorded. In Yuseo-ri, a zelkova of about 550 years is a protected tree.

What to see

• Saengil Island Trail: a coastal route from Seoseong Port via the Yongchul pebble shore, the Geummeori tidal path and Geumgok Beach to Geumgok village. It is 10.6 km long and takes about three and a half hours. Wando County picked it as its recommended destination for October 2026.
• Yongchul-ri pebble beach: a beach of black pebbles on the south side of the island. Every wave that runs in and out sets the stones rattling with a clear, bright sound.
• Geumgok Beach: a fine sandy beach at Geumgok-ri on the west coast, enclosed by black pines and camellias, so there is plenty of shade even in summer.
• Baegunsan and Hakseoam: on the slopes of Baegunsan, whose three peaks overlap one another, is Hakseoam, a hermitage founded in 1719 by the monk Hwasik of Cheongwansa. It is the island's only listed heritage site, and locals call it "the temple out back".
• Chinquapin forest: about 90,000 m² of evergreen woodland, so quiet that Wando County named it one of its best places to simply sit and switch off.
• Saengil Pine: a pine of more than 200 years standing tall on the hill behind Seoseong Port, the first thing you see as the ferry comes in.

Tripto tips

• Ferries: the car ferry from Dangmok Port on Yaksando reaches Seoseong Port in about 25 minutes. Boats also run from Wando Port, but less often. Timetables change with the season and the weather, so check with Wando County or the ferry booking app "Gabogo Sipeun Seom" before you set off.
• Time needed: a day trip is possible, but walking the whole trail takes a full day. Spending a night in a guesthouse lets you enjoy the sunset over the western sea without rushing.
• What to bring: there are few restaurants or shops on the island, so carry water and snacks. Parts of the trail have no shade, so a hat helps.
• When to go: spring and autumn are best for walking; in summer you can add a swim at Geumgok Beach.
• Making the most of the name: the birthday cake at the port is the island's signature photo spot, and many visitors time their trip for a birthday or anniversary.