Muuido Island Adventure

With the weather warming up lately I wanted to find a beach in Korea. Off the coast of Incheon lies Muuido Island, a beautiful island filled with tall green mountains, multiple hiking trails, and beaches. Since I went there in May the beach was not filled with people but during the warmer months of summer many Koreans enjoy heading out to Muuido with family to camp out and enjoy the many activities available on the island. I spent the night on Hanagae beach, the main beach where many people go to camp and spend time with family and friends.

One of the best parts about Muuido is that the commute from Seoul to the island is relatively quick and simple. The entire trip only takes about three hours. From Seoul you can hop on the KTX train at Hongdae station and take it all the way to the Incheon Airport. From Incheon Airport, go to the third floor where there are arrivals and departures and head to the airport buses outside. Between sections 5 and 6 you can get on bus #222 which will take you straight to Muuido (it’s the last stop). When you’ve arrived, you must take a ferry which transports you to the island. If you follow the crowd of people who arrive and walk on a straight path for about 10 minutes, you will see a small row of convenience stores and a white building where tickets for the ferry are sold. These tickets cost 3,000 won and the ride back to the mainland is free. Once you arrive to the island, you will see a big sign that says “Welcome to Muuido” and straight ahead to the right people will be lined up to get on the bus to Hanagae beach. This bus is bright green and says #1 on it. The very last bus stop will take you to Hanagae beach.

Upon arriving to Muuido Island I made the mistake of getting off the bus stop too early but things worked out okay because I ended up at a different part of the island where many people go to hike and sightsee. I decided to make the most of where I landed by hiking some of the mountain trails which led up to viewpoints of the water and beautiful rock formations that were in the water. From above I could also see many travelers who had set up camp near the water and other island formations in the distance. After hiking I wanted to continue looking for Hanagae beach, my original destination.

I got back on the same bus I had ridden before and this time rode it until the very last stop. I arrived to Hanagae beach and bought some snacks from a convenience store and paid for a 2000 won ticket to enter the beach. At about 2pm the beach was crowded with children and families who laid outside, played on the sand or in the water, or looked for clams and crabs. After relaxing for a couple of hours since it was getting late, I rented a one room hut which was situated right on the sand just a few meters away from the shoreline. This beach is unique because the tide rolls very far back during the nighttime and almost no water is visible from the huts until the next day when the tide comes back. These huts were affordable, at 30,000 won/night and they came with two blankets and some pillows. I recommend staying overnight in these because they have a nice view, are cheaper than guesthouses, and also have conveniently located bathrooms and showers just a few feet away. I would suggest packing a decent amount of food beforehand if you are not a big fan of seafood. Hanagae, and all of Muuido is packed with primarily seafood restaurants and the one barbeque restaurant I found was rather expensive. Most campers nearby brought their own hotpots and meat to barbeque. Overall Muuido has been one of my favorite places that I’ve traveled to and the mood of the island and the beach is very calming. It is the ideal place to catch a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.