Exploring Gogunsan Islands in Gunsan: A Driver's Getaway
1. Heading to the Gogunsan Islands of Gunsan
My destination for this trip was the Gogunsan Islands in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do. Gogunsan Islands consist of 63 islands off the coast of Gunsan. I was surprised to learn that Gunsan had so many islands through this trip.
What immediately caught my eye were the well-maintained roads and the bridges that stretched out refreshingly. It was perfect for enjoying the beautiful ocean scenery while driving. The roads and bridges were well-built, but I couldn't help but feel that the investment was a bit of a waste since there weren't many cars, even during the summer vacation season.
I think it's one of the best destinations for a 1-night, 2-day drive trip from the Seoul metropolitan area.
2. Sinsido Island 1-Night, 3-Meal Package Trip
For this trip, I booked a package that included a 1-night stay on Sinsido Island, 3 meals, and a cruise. It had become famous after being featured on a TV show. The price was 150,000 won per person, so my expectations were high, but it fell short.
Lunch Menu
Dinner Menu
Breakfast Menu
I understand that it can be challenging to prepare meals for multiple people at once, but the side dishes were dried out because they were set out too early. I expected an abundance of fresh seafood because it's by the sea, but it was disappointing. The basic side dishes, including kimchi, weren't tasty, and it felt like they were just trying to make as much profit as possible by taking in as many teams as possible, which was disappointing.
Accommodation: The room was too small, and the mattress for the Ondol room was thin, slippery, and uncomfortable.
Meals: It was advertised as a 'full-course seafood spread,' but it was far from fresh and abundant.
Honestly, I felt that it would have been much better to book accommodation and meals separately for that price.
3. Cruise Tour in the Rain and Wind
After lunch at the accommodation, I went on a Gogunsan Islands cruise as planned, even though it was raining heavily and windy. They said the boat would depart as scheduled even in this weather. It was packed with people. I got on the boat, shielded myself with an umbrella, and sat on a chair to admire the scenery. The scenery of the islands in the rain was atmospheric and beautiful in its own way. In particular, the sight of small and large islands clustered together was reminiscent of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. It was cool because of the rain, and I liked that there was no strong sunlight. I was able to feel the charm of a rainy day.
4. Seonyudo and Jangjado Trail Trekking
After eating breakfast on the second day, I headed to Jangjado Island. I decided to revisit the island because I couldn't properly explore it due to the rain and wind the day before. There is a small mountain on Jangjado Island called Daejangbong. A trail was created up to Daejangbong. The mountain was slightly steep, but it was healing to walk along the cool forest path while listening to the sound of the waves. Crabs were crawling around everywhere. It was amazing to see crabs on the mountain, probably because it was adjacent to the sea. The course wasn't very long, so it was enough to finish in about an hour. It was so nice to be able to walk on a mountain path while looking at the sea.
I thought that I should stay at a pension on Jangjado Island next time I visit. There were beautiful pensions lined up in front of Daejangbong, and the ocean view from the accommodation would be amazing.
After coming down from the mountain, I walked the Seonyudo Island trail this time. The cruise captain told me to definitely visit this place. A deck path was built along the sea, and the scenery was so beautiful as if I was walking on the sea. It was a flat area, and the course was short, so it was a bit disappointing. It's about 30 minutes to 1 hour away. There were few tourists, so it was good to walk quietly, and the time spent walking while listening to the sound of the waves was truly healing.
5. Overall Review
Gogunsan Islands in Gunsan was a travel destination worth visiting just for the drive and scenery. I was amazed that Seonyudo and Jangjado, which used to require taking a boat, are now connected by bridges, making it easy to travel by car. The well-maintained roads and bridges, the island scenery enjoyed on a cruise, and the Seonyudo and Jangjado trekking were really great. Although the accommodation and meals were unsatisfactory for the price, if I visit again, I think it would be better to stay at a pension on Jangjado Island and eat at a restaurant in Gunsan or near Seonyudo.
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