Discover Korea's Hidden Gems: Daedo and Ijak Fishing Villages

The Ministry of Oceans, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries(MOF) has announced the 'Fishing Village Destinations of March' for tourists looking to explore Korea's natural and cultural heritage. Daedo Village in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Ijak Village in Ongjin-gun, Incheon are selected for their natural beauty and vast tidal flats.

Daedo Fishing Village, situated on Daedo Island, offers visitors an array of activities such as fishing, sightseeing, and walking along the coastal promenade with its beautiful view of the sea and trees. The village is home to cute, photogenic statues that make for great memories, and visitors can end the day with delicious seafood soup and grilled fish at a restaurant recently opened by the fishing community. To get to the village, visitors need to take a 15-minute boat ride from Noryang Port in Hadong-gun.

Noryang Port, situated in Noryang-ri, Geumnam-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, has a fascinating history. Legend has it that the port was named Noryang because the droplets of water hitting the ferry looked like dewdrops in the eyes of the monks who were exiled to the South Sea. It is also home to a diverse range of fish species, making it a popular fishing spot. A 20-minute boat ride from Noryang Port will take you to Daedo Village, the only inhabited island in Hadong. The beach trekking course connecting Daedo island and Nongseom  island and the tidal flat experience are becoming increasingly popular tourist attractions in Hadong.

Ijak Fishing Village, on the other hand, is located about a two-hour ferry ride from Incheon Port Coastal Passenger Terminal. The village is home to a sandy island called Puldeung, which offers a mysterious and exotic landscape. Visitors can take a walk along the marine ecology trail and go hiking, and enjoy making lanterns indoors even in bad weather. The village's local dishes such as clams, oysters, and dried sea bass are worth trying.

Take a short 40-kilometer boat ride from Incheon to the picturesque Daejakdo Island and you will be greeted with the magnificent Puldeung. The island, submerged in seawater at high tide, appears as a mystical sand island called Puldeung when the water recedes. Covering an area of about 470,000 square meters, Puldeung measures about 3.6 kilometers from east to west and 1.2 kilometers from north to south. Its vast sandy terrain changes shape and width every day, depending on the wind and waves of the constantly moving sea. The locals call it Pulchi or Vast Sand Island. Puldeung is situated at the mouth of a river and houses a rich marine ecosystem created by the accumulation of sand over the years.

Both destinations offer a unique experience for tourists looking to explore Korea's natural and cultural heritage. They provide an insight into the country's rich maritime culture and offer visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of the fishing communities.

The Ministry of Oceans, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries(MOF) hopes that the selection of Daedo Village and Ijak Village as the 'Fishing Village Destinations of March' will encourage more visitors to explore the country's beautiful and vast coastal areas and learn about the local communities and their way of life.

The Ministry's monthly selection provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience and appreciate Korea's rich marine and coastal resources while supporting the local communities. It also highlights the importance of preserving and protecting these resources for future generations.