Sinan-gun Selects 6 Destinations Including Banwol and Bakji Islands Among 33 Islands You Want to Visit

County Governor Park Woo-ryang: "We Will Create Unique Charms for Each Island"

Banwol·Bakji Purple Bridge in Sinan (Photo by Sinan-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Six locations in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, including Banwol and Bakji Islands, have been selected as part of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "33 Islands You Want to Visit in 2021."

According to Sinan-gun on the 16th, since 2016, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has annually selected "Islands You Want to Visit" to promote tourism and revitalize the local economy in island regions.

Five themes are used as criteria, considering advice from island tourism experts and the diverse preferences of island travelers: islands good for walking, islands good for photography, storytelling islands, relaxing islands, and experiential islands.

This year, among the six selected islands, the islands good for walking are Gijeom and Soakdo (12 Apostles Pilgrimage Trail), Banwol and Bakjido (Purple Bridge, Lavender Park) ? two locations; islands good for photography are Jaeun-do (Infinite Bridge, 1004 Island Museum Park) and Byeongpung-do (Celosia Garden) ? two locations; experiential islands are Imja-do (Tulip Park, Daegwang Beach horseback riding experience) and Jeungdo (mudflat experience) ? two locations.

The walking-friendly islands Gijeom and Soakdo transform into five islands when the tide rises, submerging the connecting sandbar paths, and are known as the "Santiago of Korea" due to the 12 Apostles Chapel Pilgrimage Trail.

Banwol and Bakjido are islands where a purple fragrance blooms, offering a unique experience of walking along beautiful coastal trails while enjoying the scent of lavender.

Jaeun-do, an island good for photography, is a place of healing and relaxation. The 1004 Museum Park is a marine complex cultural site located on 1.5 million pyeong of Yangsan Beach with beautiful Jaeun-do pine forests, featuring distinctive themes such as the 1004 Island Su-seok Art Museum, Su-seok Garden, and World Shell Museum. The Infinite Bridge connects islands with a bridge symbolizing continuity and endless development.

Imja-do, an experiential island, boasts Daegwang Beach, the longest 12 km white sand beach in the country. Every July, the Croaker Festival is held, and in April, the Tulip Festival unfolds across a vast 43,000-pyeong area with 50 species and 6 million blooming flowers.

Jeungdo, designated as Asia's first Slow City, is an island with pristine natural scenery and a protected mudflat wetland area where visitors can observe clean mudflats.

Additionally, among the "33 Islands You Want to Visit in 2021," Banwol and Bakjido's Purple Bridge was selected as the "August Romantic Island Trip," and Gijeom and Soakdo's 12 Apostles Pilgrimage Trail was chosen as the "November Autumn Breeze Walking Trip," both recognized as Jeollanam-do's "Tourist Destinations of the Month" for the second half of 2021.

County Governor Park Woo-ryang stated, "Sinan is the local government with the most islands nationwide, and besides the islands selected this time, we plan to create unique gardens on each island to develop Sinan's own charm."

He also urged visitors to strictly follow quarantine guidelines by avoiding peak holiday periods (late July to early August) and visiting in small family groups dispersed over time.