Deokjeokdo Travel Guide | Korea's Hidden Gem

If your goal is to enjoy the beauty of Korea without screaming children, drunk old men, and crazy howling tourists, Deokjeokdo is just the recipe for you. Think about most of the beaches you’ve been to in Korea before.

Busan beaches? Riddled with people. Gangneung Beach? OMG, run for your LIFE. Girl, don’t even. Seriously.

I have nothing but amazing things to say about Deokjeokdo, and I would gladly go again next summer to bum around the beaches and enjoy what it offers. Let’s say once I caught wind of Deokjeokdo, I decided to jump on a ferry and go island hopping.

It wasn’t long before this city slicker and honorary Okinawan island princess was like… Hell yeah!

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What To Do on Deokjeokdo

Located on the West Coast, you’re not going to find that many people going there. This is because most Koreans travel to the East Coast for a beach holiday.

However, don’t let this deceive you—you will have an amazing time on this small island! The travel time from Yeonan Pier to Deokjeokdo is about 70 minutes.

The earliest passenger ferry bound for the island leaves at 8 am, and the latest one leaves at 12 pm. Check out the official Incheon Port website for a complete ferry schedule and costs.

When you arrive at the coastal terminal, you will find some English maps. I recommend downloading Naver Maps onto your phone so you can easily navigate.

Seopori Beach

This is pretty much where the best beach on the island is. A luxurious forest of 100-year-old pine trees surrounds it.

The beach is moderately sloped and a bit muddy if the tide goes down. Other than that, Seopori is a white sand beach and very enjoyable.

There’s a huge stretch and plenty of space to sprawl out and avoid others. Since this beach isn’t as populated as one of the more dense ones, you will not find any places to rent umbrellas or chairs.

Bring your own or go to the beach after 3 pm when you won’t get burnt to a crisp. I also recommend checking out the other beach, Batjireum Beach.

Mud Flats

Deokjeokdo boasts about going to mud flats and catching clams. While clam scouting, a friendly ajhumma or two might help you pick the best ones.

The best time to go is in the afternoon when the tide is low. That way you can have your pick of the adorable little clams for feasting.

After you’re done, you can keep the clams and cook them.

Bijobong Peak

Since Koreans love to hike, many of the mountain’s trails are well-maintained. Unjubong Peak and Bijobong Peak offer short hikes and are accessible from Seopori or the port town.

They give you incredible views of the island. If you are up for a challenge, you can also hike Gooksubong Peak. Follow the ridges from Unjubong or Bijobong to reach it on the other side of the island.

Where To Stay on Deokjeokdo Island

I’ll be the first to admit the pension we stayed in was not the Gangneung Seamarq Hotel, but sometimes you’re paying for the location, as is the case with Sonamu Hyangi. It’s super close proximity to the beach, a bike rental shop next door, a CU located underneath, and all the best restaurants on the island are less than a 10-minute walk.

The downsides? It’s kind of old, Korean style (you’ll be sleeping on a mat on the floor), the bathroom was a little gross, and it cost about 100,000 won per night. If you’re on a budget, you can also go camping on Seopori Beach to cut costs. They have shower facilities on site.

What to Eat

When you get off the ferry and arrive at the port, almost every restaurant and most conveniences are in the port area. Korea isn’t very vegetarian-friendly, but if you ask nicely, you can find places that serve bibimbap without eggs or meat.

Not in the mood for Korean food? Island is the only restaurant on the island that serves Western food… And it’s called Island.

How To Get Around

Despite looking small on the map, Deokjeokdo is anything but. You can bring your own transport on the ferry, such as a bike, car, scooter, or rented bus.

There is also a bike rental shop called Jajeonga Yogeumpyo. Bike rentals cost 4,000 won for one hour and 7,000 won for two hours.

Public Transport is also not that good, so if you have a motorized scooter, bike, or car, I highly recommend bringing it.

A Special Thank You

Thanks to Koreaners and the Incheon Tourism Organization, they made a pretty rad festival for foreigners and locals on Deokjeokdo alike. The Organization booked some pretty cool bands and dancing performances.

There was also a bonfire and fire lanterns to light and bring toward the sky. The only word I have for the experience is… MAGICAL.

How To Get There

Take the dark blue line or Line 1 to Dongincheon Station. From there, you can take a taxi or Bus 12 or 24 for 20 minutes to Yeonan Pier.

The basic standard ferry is about 35,000 won for a round trip. If you’re an Incheon resident, you get half-price.

The ferry schedule from Deokjeokdo usually goes there four times a day. From Deokjeokdo, you can leave the island at three different times, with two ferries available at 4:30. Also note that each is a one-way price and not a round trip. In addition, bringing your transport is a separate cost.

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