Yokjido Island

Of the many islands scattered off Tongyeong, Yokjido stands out for its well-made coastal road that loops right around the island, ideal for a slow drive or bike ride. On its roughly 12.5 km² you will find fishing villages, sweet-potato fields and lookouts over the sea. It takes about an hour by ferry from the mainland, but that is what keeps its South Sea scenery so unhurried.

About the island

Yokjido belongs to Yokji-myeon, a township of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang. The Saryangjin raid of 1544, despite its name, is said to have taken place not on Saryangdo but at the Saryang naval post in Jinri on Yokjido. The island also has a prehistoric shell midden, showing that people have lived here for a very long time.

The island's name in Chinese characters, 欲知, means "wishing to know". Although it is an island, the ring road is well maintained, so driving is easy, and the island's main sights lie along the way.

Today Yokjido is best known for its sweet potatoes. The surrounding waters are rich in fish such as black porgy, so in summer the island fills with people who come to swim and fish, while laver and oyster farming thrive along the coast. You will also meet plenty of cats around the island.

What to see

• Coastal ring road: the road winds around the island's hillsides, with views of the sea and villages in turn. There are many S-bends, so drive slowly.
• Samyeo Observatory: the best known of the lookouts along the road. The three rocks just off the cliffs, called Samyeo, carry a legend about the Dragon King's three daughters, who were turned to stone after falling for a young man who was really an ancient serpent in disguise.
• Deokdong Beach: a black-pebble beach of about 300 m on the north of the island, with clear water and a pine grove, popular in summer.
• Castanopsis forest: an evergreen forest designated a Natural Monument, showing what the woods of the warm southern islands look like.

The legend of Samyeo

The story goes like this. When the Dragon King's three daughters fell in love with a young man who was really a 900-year-old serpent, their furious father turned them all to stone. Learning that the women who loved him had become rocks, the young man in turn cursed the Dragon King and pushed a mountain into the sea, blocking it with two islands. Stand at the observatory and look at the three rocks below the cliff and the islands beyond with this tale in mind.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: ferries to Yokjido leave from the Tongyeong Port passenger terminal and from Samdeok Port in Sanyang-eup. The Samdeok sailings are known as the quickest and cheapest, taking about 1 hour.
• Booking: in the summer peak season it is hard to buy tickets on the spot, so book ahead. Timetables vary between weekdays, weekends and seasons.
• Weather: strong winds or high waves can delay or cancel sailings, so check on the day of travel.
• Getting around: to explore the ring road, take your car on the ferry or use a bicycle.
• Planning: a day trip is possible, but stay overnight if you want to enjoy the road and beaches at leisure.