A Guide to Traveling to 3 Hidden Small Islands in Korea: Exploring Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo

A Journey to Korea's Unknown Small Islands: A Guide to Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo for Foreigners

When traveling to Korea, the representative islands that many people think of are Jeju Island and Ulleungdo. However, in Korea, there are smaller and quieter islands that hold their own unique charm and stories. Especially for foreign travelers, these less-known small islands are like hidden treasures where you can experience the 'real Korea'.

In this posting, with the theme of traveling to small islands in Korea, we will introduce hidden island destinations, focusing on Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo. Each island has its own unique characteristics, offering a special opportunity to deeply experience Korean tradition and local culture, beyond simply enjoying the natural scenery.

Gyodongdo in Ganghwado is a place with a unique atmosphere, adjacent to North Korea. In the Daeryong Market of Gyodongdo, you can feel the old-fashioned traditional Korean market as it is, and historical sites like Gyodong Hyanggyo also offer a serene charm. It is easily accessible as a day trip from Seoul, making it popular among travelers who want to experience the quiet countryside.

Seonyudo in Gunsan is an island with another charm. Seonyudo Beach, which unfolds against the backdrop of the blue sea, is famous as a summer vacation spot, and the Seonyudo bicycle course, where you can leisurely explore the entire island by bicycle, offers a special experience to travelers visiting Gunsan. The scenery of Seonyudo, where you ride a bicycle instead of a car, gives you a freedom that you cannot feel in any large tourist destination.

Finally, Naedo in Geoje, is a true hidden gem that is still almost unknown among overseas travelers. This place, which is quiet enough to be nicknamed 'the secret island' and preserves the natural state, will be the best healing travel destination for those tired of the complex city life. Especially, Naedo boasts various trekking courses and scenic views despite being a small island, so it is a must-add to the Korean island travel recommendation list.

As such, for those who want to enjoy a secret island trip through the Korean island travel guide, or for foreign travelers looking for hidden travel destinations in Korea, this series will be the best guide. In these small, less-known islands, create your own special memories.

Now, let's leave the complex city and head to the hidden small islands of Korea — Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo together?

Gyodongdo: A Quiet Island Facing North Korea, Embracing the Scent of Korean Tradition

About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Seoul, passing Ganghwado and crossing a bridge, you can reach Gyodongdo, which has a more unique atmosphere than any other island. This is because it is only about 2km away from North Korea. Wherever you go on the island, on a clear day, you can experience the rare sight of North Korean land unfolding before your eyes.

The first place to visit in Gyodongdo is the Daeryong Market. This is a place where you can vividly experience Korean traditional market culture in a landscape where time seems to have stopped. Old signs, alleys with the smell of people, vendors selling homemade kimchi and sauces — everything adds to the serene charm of this place. For foreign travelers, it's not just shopping, but a special time to feel the daily life and emotions of Koreans.

In addition, Gyodong Hyanggyo is located in the center of the island. This Hyanggyo, built during the Joseon Dynasty, embodies the spirit of Confucian culture, and the antique tiled roof and quiet stone walls hold the history and tradition of Gyodongdo as it is. If you walk here, you will feel as if you are walking through time hundreds of years ago.

Gyodongdo is, above all, a quiet island. Although it is not a bustling tourist destination, you can meet the real appearance of Korea in that very quietness.

Seonyudo: A Bicycle Trip Across the Sea, a Jewel of the Gunsan Sea

Seonyudo in Gunsan is a special island where a beautiful beach and free bicycle trips meet.
When you take a boat from Gunsan Port to Seonyudo, Seonyudo Beach welcomes you first. The vast horizon where the sea and sky meet, the fine sandy beach, and the scenery of the small islands spread out in the distance instantly captivate the traveler's heart.

The most popular activity on Seonyudo is definitely a bicycle trip. The entire island is flat, so beginners can ride a bicycle without any burden. Riding a bicycle around the eight scenic spots called 'Seonyu Palgyeong' and taking a break to look at the sea in the middle will be a special memory that you will never forget.

As you cycle along the sea breeze, you will naturally encounter the simple daily life of Seonyudo. Wildflowers blooming on the roadside, crabs playing in the rocks, the greetings of fishermen — all of these create the warm and peaceful charm of Seonyudo.
Seonyudo is an island filled with clear air and sea breeze, without the noise of cars. If you are a foreign traveler who wants to put down the daily life of a complex city for a while and feel nature with your whole body, Seonyudo will be the best choice.

Naedo: A Hidden Gem That No One Knows Yet, a Small Island of Geoje

In the southern sea of Korea, near Geoje Island, there is a small island that is not well known. That is Naedo.
Naedo is small, so the time it takes to travel by boat is also short, but the moment you enter the island, a completely different world unfolds. Nature untouched by human hands remains as it is, and there are few visitors, so the entire island feels like a secret garden just for you.

Especially, Naedo's scenic trekking course is highly recommended for foreign travelers. As you walk along the forest path, your view suddenly opens up and the sea unfolds before your eyes, and you can see the magnificent view of the cliffs and the blue waves crashing right next to you. Because there are not many tourists, it is possible to quietly face nature, walk slowly, breathe, and feel the time.

Naedo is not just an island that provides 'sights'. It is a place that becomes a deep impression in itself. It is a place that perfectly suits the words 'hidden travel destination' and 'secret island' — that is Naedo.

In Korea, there are already world-famous islands like Jeju Island and Ulleungdo. However, behind them, there are more modest and more real islands that have not yet received the attention of the world, quietly breathing. Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo are those islands.
In Gyodongdo, you can meet the warm and familiar Korean traditional market culture, even in the unique tension of facing North Korea.

The friendly alleys of Daeryong Market and the quiet dignity of Gyodong Hyanggyo show the real image of Korea that cannot be felt in tourist destinations to foreigners. If you only knew the busy and modern city of Korea, Gyodongdo will give you the gift of 'Korea in another time'.

Seonyudo is an island that embraces the free sea. The experience of riding a bicycle and enjoying the soft sea breeze while roaming the island offers a special impression that can never be felt through books or videos. Time to enjoy the scenery slowly in nature without a car, and to run with the sea that seems to be within reach — this is the gift that Seonyudo gives. "Was there such a place in Korea?" Seonyudo is so free and pure that you'll be surprised.

Naedo is literally a 'hidden paradise'. The forest paths and cliffs untouched by human hands, and the blue sea beyond, create a moment for travelers to reconnect with nature. In Naedo, you can face nature itself, without anything artificial. Time to walk quietly, watch quietly, and be moved quietly — Naedo will give foreign travelers the purest emotional line that can be experienced in Korea.

These three islands do not promise grand theme parks or fancy shopping malls. Instead, they promise real Korea, unforgettable moments, and stories that will last long in your heart. If you are looking for a Korean island travel guide, if you want to meet hidden scenic spots, and if you want to experience special islands before anyone else,

Now, it's time to go to Gyodongdo, Seonyudo, and Naedo.
Escape the complex city and meet the sea, the wind, and the breath of the quiet island. A small adventure just for you is waiting here.