Bigeumdo Island, 54 km from Mokpo Port, is about 50 minutes away by fast ferry, per KTO English data (2026-10-09).
Both main beaches are open year-round with free admission, so the only thing you have to pay for is the trip itself.
This post covers the two ferry routes, the beaches, the Seonwangsan hike, what the island is known for, and who to call before you go.
Key facts — As of 2026-10-08
- Bigeumdo Island, 54 km from Mokpo Port, is about 50 minutes away by fast ferry, per KTO English data (2026-10-09).
Bigeumdo Island: How to Get There From Seoul
| Distance from Mokpo Port | 54 km — about 50 minutes by fast ferry |
|---|---|
| Getting there from Seoul | KTX Seoul → Mokpo or Gwangju Songjeong, then ferry |
| Admission | Free at both beaches, open year-round |
| Ferry fare and exact timetable | Not confirmed from a primary operator page — check Mokpo Port schedules before departure |
KTX trains run from Seoul to Gwangju Songjeong and Mokpo, and from there you continue by bus, taxi or ferry.
The island is made up of 82 islands — 3 inhabited and 79 uninhabited — and the main pier is Sudok on the main island.
However, whether the KTX arrival connects with a same-day ferry departure was not verified from a primary source, so check Mokpo Port ferry times against your train arrival before you commit.
- Take a KTX from Seoul toward Mokpo (or Gwangju Songjeong).
- Transfer to a local bus or taxi toward Mokpo Port.
- Board the fast ferry from Mokpo Port to Bigeumdo (about 50 minutes, 54 km).
- Confirm ferry operation and weather conditions the day before travel, because schedules change.
If you are traveling without a car, the rail-plus-ferry route is the confirmed way from the capital area, and I would anchor the trip on the beaches and the Seonwangsan hike — those are free, open year-round and confirmed — while treating the ferry as the part to verify the day before.
Getting there — Bigeumdo Island
- Seoul → Mokpo by train: fastest 2h 20m, from ₩43,500, 35 trains a day, first 05:08 · last 21:18 · timetable
- Seoul → Mokpo by express bus: fastest 3h 50m, from ₩36,700, 18 buses a day, first 06:00 · last 23:55 · timetable
- Last leg: about 73.6 km from Mokpo Station — roughly 187 min by taxi or car without traffic; local buses also run (check the stop sign or a map app)
- Map: Naver Map · Kakao Map · Google Maps
Calculated by koreankorea.com from the national train and express-bus timetables, OpenStreetMap road distance. Plan your own route
Ferry options and times — Mokpo and Amtaedo
| Route | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| From Mokpo (no car) | KTX to Mokpo or Gwangju Songjeong, then fast ferry from Mokpo Port | About 50 minutes |
| Driving (with car) | Car ferry from Namgang Port on Amtaedo Island | About 40 minutes |
| To Dochodo | 937 m Seonammun (Yeondogyo) Bridge, opened September 1996 | Drive across |
Schedules change with weather and season, so the operator’s current timetable is the only thing worth trusting for a specific date.
No first-party ferry timetable or fare for Mokpo–Bigeumdo could be confirmed from a primary operator page, so check the current schedule before you build your day around a specific sailing.
Hours, admission and beaches
Both Hanunum (Heart) Beach and Wonpyeong Beach are open year-round with free admission, per KTO-derived facts.
The island itself has no closing hours, so the ferry is the real limit on your day.
Wonpyeong Beach runs about 4 km of fine sand (‘Myeongsa-sipri’), and KTO calls the sunset view there spectacular; it was also a filming location for the TV drama ‘Spring Waltz’.
Hanunum Beach is 1 km long and 50 m wide, with a heart-shaped shoreline that gives it the name ‘Heart Beach’; it draws over 20,000 summer visitors a year.
If there is an entry fee or closing season you were worried about, there is none at the beaches — the thing to check is the ferry, not admission.
Visiting with kids or for a relaxed beach stay → choose Wonpyeong Beach, because the sand is firm enough for cars to drive on and the sunsets are the reason people come.
What to do once there: hike and beaches
The Seonwangsan ridge course is 5 km and takes about 3 hours from Sangam parking lot to Heart Beach, per the local travel guide.
The route runs Sangam parking lot → Geumsan → the 255 m summit → Heart Beach, and from the top the Dadohae archipelago opens up in a wide panorama.
Hiking boots (not sneakers) and drinking water are advised because of the rocky ridge sections, and the trail ends directly at the sand — so you can do a hike and a beach in one trip.
Planning a hike plus a beach day → do the 5 km Seonwangsan course, because it finishes at Heart Beach and needs no extra transfer.
If you would rather skip the trail, both beaches are free and open all year; ferry schedule and weather are the only constraints.
Salt, food and why this island
Bigeumdo was the first place in Korea to produce sun-dried salt and still supplies about 5% of national production, per KBS.
Salt fields are the first thing visible after leaving Sudok ferry pier, and the island is part of Dadohae Maritime National Park, with a well-preserved natural environment and fewer crowds than better-known islands.
Local produce includes ‘golden spinach’ (Bigeumcho), grown in germanium-rich soil with high sugar content, plus rice, barley, sweet potato, onion and garlic.
Nearby waters yield sea bass, anchovy, octopus, shrimp and sea cucumber, and laver and wakame farming is active.
Among the 827 islands of Sinan County, Bigeumdo is the seventh-largest at 45.25 km² with a coastline listed at 64.1 km (Wikipedia) — KTO’s description says about 132 km, so figures differ by source.
Choosing between Sinan islands for a quiet trip → pick Bigeumdo if you want fewer crowds inside a national park setting.
Who to call before you go
For English-language help, the 1330 Travel Hotline at +82-2-1330 covers Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.
For general island information the Sinan county number is +82-61-240-8524, and Hanunum Beach inquiries go through the Bigeum township office at +82-61-275-7465.
Accommodation options on the island were not verified from recent sources, so do not assume a room without checking.
Call the township office for beach-side details and the hotline for transport questions in English.
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Sources
- koreankorea.com index of trains from Seoul to Gwangju and Mo (koreankorea.com)
- Over 20,000 summer visitors a year; SBS drama filmed there; (rki.kbs.co.kr)
- 54 km from Mokpo Port, 82 islands, 132 km coastline, Yeondog (english.visitkorea.or.kr)
What I would check before booking anything
- Confirm the ferry schedule and weather the day before you travel — the timetable changes with the season.
- There is no first-party Mokpo–Bigeumdo fare or timetable confirmed, so verify the sailing time before building your day around it.
- Both beaches are free and open year-round; anchor the trip on the beaches and the Seonwangsan hike.
- Bring proper hiking boots and water for the Seonwangsan course.
- For beach or ferry questions, call 1330 (+82-2-1330) before you go.
FAQ
Q. How do I get to Bigeumdo Island from Seoul?
Take a KTX from Seoul to Mokpo or Gwangju Songjeong, transfer to Mokpo Port, and ride the fast ferry (about 50 minutes, 54 km). Same-day connection timing was not verified, so check ferry times against your train.
Q. How long is the ferry from Mokpo to Bigeumdo?
About 50 minutes by fast ferry from Mokpo Port; a car ferry from Namgang Port on Amtaedo takes about 40 minutes.
Q. When is Bigeumdo Island open and are the beaches free?
Both Hanunum (Heart) Beach and Wonpyeong Beach are open year-round with free admission. The island has no closing hours, but ferry schedules change with weather.
Q. Where do you catch the ferry to Heart Beach?
Heart Beach (Hanunum) is reached via the ferry to Bigeumdo — either the fast ferry from Mokpo Port or the car ferry from Namgang Port on Amtaedo. For beach details, call the Bigeum township office at +82-61-275-7465.
Q. Can I drive to Bigeumdo Island?
Yes, the confirmed way to bring a car is the car ferry from Namgang Port on Amtaedo, which takes about 40 minutes. Check the ferry operation schedule before travel.
Both beaches are free and open year-round — the only thing to verify is the ferry. Call the 1330 Travel Hotline (+82-2-1330, English spoken) the day before you travel.
Cover photo: AI-generated illustration (korean island beach) — AI-generated image, illustrative only
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