Summer Hydrangea Draws Crowds of Tourists
Gohung Ssukseom, designated as Jeollanam-do's first private garden, is captivating tourists' attention with hydrangeas, the quintessential flower heralding summer, blooming in full glory from early June.
Located just a 3-minute ferry ride from Narodo Port, Ssukseom is filled with the scent of hydrangeas spreading throughout the island, as if preparing for the summer season.
As you climb through the dense subtropical forest dotted with signboards telling Ssukseom's unique stories, you will encounter the Hydrangea Path, one of the island's eight scenic spots, proudly in full bloom. On weekends, when visitors flock to take commemorative photos against the colorful hydrangea backdrop, it becomes evident that this popular tourist destination attracts about 1,000 visitors daily.
Besides the flower gardens blooming in every season, walking along the trails reveals other unique sights, such as the Love Stone Wall Path, where village youths once nurtured their love, and a well site, now rare to find, offering visitors a brief time-travel experience and becoming an essential stop for all guests.
Leaving the village streets and heading to the outer coastal road, visitors will see the white Seonghwa Lighthouse sparkling in the blue sea's reflected sunlight. Following this, murals of cats and their portraits, found throughout the island, blend naturally as if they were Ssukseom's residents, offering another charming aspect of the island.
Exploring Ssukseom takes at least an hour, and a round-trip ferry ticket from Narodo Port costs 2,000 KRW, with an additional 6,000 KRW island exploration fee.
The ferry, with 12 seats, operates 11 times a day, so reservations may be difficult during peak tourist seasons. It is advisable to check in advance on the ‘I Want to Visit Islands’ website and the ‘Healing Park Ssukseom Ssukseom’ website.
The island is known for its abundant high-quality mugwort, as its name suggests, and offers various mugwort-based foods such as mugwort latte, mugwort pancakes, and mugwort waffles. If you want to make a day in June a special memory, a trip to Ssukseom, where hydrangeas are in full bloom, is highly recommended.
Gohung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr
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