Lotus on the Sea: Exploring Yeonhwa Island near Tongyeong
Creatrip Team
20 days ago
Yeonhwa Island, nicknamed the 'lotus blooming on the sea,' is an accessible island getaway from Seoul—about three hours by plane, car and ferry. Key attractions form a 2.5-hour walking circuit: Yeonhwasa temple, the cliff-side Bodeokam hermitage, a swaying suspension bridge, and the scenic Dragon Head (Yongmeori) viewpoint. A 309m pedestrian bridge connects to nearby Udo, now popular for backpacking and camping, with pebble beaches and coastal trails. Local food is a highlight: a simple seaside restaurant impressed with seaweed bibimbap (haecho bibimbap) seasoned with fish sauce, and Tongyeong city’s famed mackerel sashimi, labeled “Yeonhwa mackerel,” is famous for fatty, clean-tasting fish raised on kanari (anchovy) feed. The island offers natural scenery, easy hiking, cultural sites, and memorable local seafood.
