The Korea Island Promotion Agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety have selected and announced five island travel destinations that are perfect for this summer.
The list includes Ulleungdo, the venue for the ‘Island Day’ (August 8) event, as well as ‘K-Tourism Islands’ and islands ideal for summer vacations.
Docho Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, selected as a "Summer × Island You Want to Visit." [Photo provided by Korea Island Promotion Agency]
The Korea Island Promotion Agency (KIDI, Director Oh Dong-ho) announced on the 7th that it has selected five domestic island regions suitable for summer as ‘Summer×Islands You Want to Visit.’
The selection process was further strengthened from a tourism perspective with the participation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.
The selected islands are ▲ Dae and So Ijakdo (Ongjin-gun, Incheon) ▲ Sapsido (Boryeong-si, Chungnam) ▲ Maldo, Myeongdo, and Bangchukdo (Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk) ▲ Dochodo (Sinan-gun, Jeonnam) ▲ Ulleungdo (Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk).
Ulleungdo and Maldo, Myeongdo, Bangchukdo are designated as ‘K-Tourism Islands’ by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Being selected as a ‘K-Tourism Island’ means receiving support of around 10 billion KRW over four years for the development of tourism resources and content, strengthening tourism convenience and service infrastructure, and establishing island-specific identities.
The ‘Island Day’ event will also be held on Ulleungdo (Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk) this August. Various attractions such as commemorative ceremonies, exhibitions, and events will be prepared during this period.
Ulleungdo, blessed with pristine natural environments, also offers various marine leisure experiences such as skin diving and kayaking, making it a representative summer tourist destination.
Maldo, Myeongdo, and Bangchukdo (Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk) form an archipelago, offering the advantage of experiencing the unique characteristics of several islands at once.
Here, visitors can see a manned lighthouse located among millennium-old pine trees, the Maldo fold structure designated as a natural monument, and suspension bridges connecting the islands.
Dae and So Ijakdo (Ongjin-gun, Incheon), which boast exotic natural environments in summer, are also easily accessible from the metropolitan area.
They feature unique landscapes such as Puldeung, observable twice a day, the oldest rocks in Korea, marine ecosystems, and cloud bridges.
Sapsido (Boryeong-si, Chungnam) is an island ideal for trekking while enjoying cool sea breezes in summer.
Along the island’s trail, various attractions such as Geomeolneomeo Beach, Golden Pine Trees, and Mulmangteo offer healing experiences.
Dochodo (Sinan-gun, Jeonnam) allows visitors to fully enjoy hydrangeas, a representative summer flower. Over 100 species of hydrangeas in full bloom can be seen in the hydrangea garden, and romantic photo spots abound, including the filming location of the movie ‘Jasaneobo.’
The Korea Island Promotion Agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plan to continue promoting the selected islands by placing banners on the islands and utilizing influencers to raise awareness of the islands’ value and the related projects.
Additionally, events open to anyone visiting the ‘Summer×Islands’ will be held, with prizes awarded through a lottery.
Detailed information will be provided through the Korea Island Promotion Agency’s Instagram and Facebook (What.Seom) accounts.
Oh Dong-ho, Director of the Korea Island Promotion Agency, said, “Starting with this Summer×Islands selection, it is meaningful that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization participated to strengthen the tourism aspect. We hope more people visit and participate in the 4th Island Day event and the islands you want to visit, helping to widely promote our islands.”
Meanwhile, travel information for the five islands selected as summer islands can be found on the Korea Tourism Organization’s website ‘Visit Korea’.
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