Deokjeokdo

After we returned from Busan, we ventured into Incheon to catch a ferry to to Deokjeokdo, an island about 40 miles or so off the northwest coast. To get to the ferry terminal, you can catch the 12 or 24 bus from outside Dongincheon subway station (exit through the underground market and the bus stop is outside MacDonalds) or catch a taxi.

The domestic ferry terminal is next door to the international ferry terminal and you can buy boat tickets at the desks inside. We hadn't arranged anywhere to stay, but we were approached by a guesthouse owner as we got off the ferry and he drove us to the guesthouse (or yeogwan) near Seopori Beach. The yeogwan was fairly basic, but clean and cost us just 40,000 won for the room.

Seopori Beach

Deokjeokdo is relatively undeveloped by Korean standards (no high rises here) and Seopori (the main beach on the island) has very little apart from the beach, some houses/yeogwans and a handful of convenience stores and places to eat. Seopori was very scenic (it reminded me of Pembrokeshire in a way), but it was spoilt by 2 things....the smell of sewage which kept wafting along the beach (you don't get that in St Davids) and the VERY LOUD American girl who was, unfortunately, staying in the same guest house as us. We now know almost every detail about her life. Loud Americanism is sadly not an uncommon affliction in Korea!

Seopori Beach at night

There isn't whole lot to do on Deokjeokdo apart from lieing on the beach and its not really set up for western tourists (there are only Korean restaurants, no bars or discos), but as a place to hang out and relax for a day or two, it was nice enough as long as its sunny!