Jindo

Jindo, also known as "Jindo-gun", (Korean: 진도군) is an island in South Korea, located in the southwestern province of Jeollanam. It is the third-largest island in the country, accessible from the mainland via the cities of Mokpo and Gwangju.

Understand

Jindo in South Jeolla

Jindo got its current name in 1001, having been named "Haeyangdo" from the year 995, and "Okjoo-gun" as one of the 14 Korean states. It was invaded by the Mongols and the Japanese. The island is now part of Jindo County, an archipelago of around 230 small islands, of which only 45 are inhabited by 4,855 people.

Jindo is known to Koreans for three things:

• The Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin achieved a decisive victory against the invading Japanese navy. The location was the Myeongnyang Strait (Korean: 명량해협), then known as "Uldolmok" for the roaring tidal forces in the channel separating Jindo from the mainland. The battle is the basis for the movie Roaring Currents. Today the strait is spanned by Jindo Bridge, opened in 1984, and a second bridge was added in 2005.

A Jindo dog

• The Korean Jindo, a breed of hunting dog originating from this island. The breed has been used as guard dogs and military dogs for centuries, and is still a popular breed especially in rural areas. Many Koreans take pride in the breed as a national dog, so much so that the South Korean government certifies purebreds through genetic testing and keeps samples of "legitimate" Jindos.
• The sinking of MV Sewol, where about 300 people (mostly high school students on a field trip) died from its voyage from Incheon to Jeju. The ship sank near the coast of one of the islands near Jindo, and a response centre for emergency personnel as well as families of the passengers and the press were established in Jindo Port (진도항) (then called Paengmok port / 팽목항). For months following the disaster the port was the site of national interest. While several of the crew membered have been convicted and sentenced, the disaster is still close at heart to many South Koreans.

Landscape

Jin-do is mountainous and coastal. The shores are mostly industrial or undeveloped.

Climate

Like Seoul, Jin-do experiences warm springs and rainy summers. Temperatures stay mild into the long autumn months, and the city is often sheltered from coastal winds by its mountainous surroundings.

Tourist information

• Jindo tourist information website

Get in

By bus

The only express bus routes serving Jindo are Seoul (4 per day) and Incheon (2 per day). There are intercity buses from Mokpo and Gwangju about every hour, and will be the route most travellers take to enter Jindo. Both routes make multiple stops en route, with some more than others.

There is a flag stop at Nokjin, right after crossing the bridge into Jindo. This is a much better option for travellers planning on visiting Myeongnyang strait only. Look for a corner store with a green sign to buy tickets from Nokjin to other destinations. No buses to and from Seoul stop at Nokjin.

Get around

Bus routes within Jindo are few and far between, with the busiest lines running about 10 times per day. On top of that, lines are not numbered and make certain stops at only certain hours, so they can be extremely difficult to navigate. They are also unpredictable in terms of when they will pass certain areas. In general buses depart from the bus terminal where you will find a timetable of all the local buses, this is also the only place where the bus times are predictable. The local buses only take cash, and you can either pay on the bus or buy a ticket at the terminal (₩1,000).

There are few taxis on Jin-do, and the town centre is small enough to explore on foot. The coach bus from Mokpo does make stops on its route around the island. Ferries service the bigger islets. Timetables for the local buses and ferries can be found here.

See

• 1 Unlim Mountain Room (운림산방), 315, Unlimsanbang-ro, Uisin-myeon, ☏ +82 061-540-6262. 09:00-18:00. The title of the studio where painter He Yu (1807-1892), from the late Joseon Dynasty, lived in his later years. ₩2000. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Jindo National Recreation Forest (국립진도자연휴양림), 1-92 Dongryeonggae-gil, Imhoe-myeon, ☏ +82 061-542-2346. 09:0- 18:00. It is adjacent to Jindo's tourist attractions such as Dadohaesang National Park, Jindo Mysterious Sea Road, Unlim Sanbang, and Sebang Nakjo, which are natural landscapes, so there are plenty of experiences and attractions. You can use a forest house, a forest culture resort, a visitor information center, a woodcraft experience center, a sea of grass, and a deck road, and there is a well-established trail where you can take a walk while looking at various trees and flowers. (updated Sep 2024)
• 3 Sebang Nakjo Observatory (세방낙조 전망대), San 27-3 Gahak-ri, Jisan-myeon. The observatory is known for its beautiful sunset view, especially with islands on the west coast and the sea in the background. Various islands are spread out around the area, making it spectacular to see the sun set between the islands, and it is also famous for being a good place to take pictures. The road to the observatory also has beautiful natural scenery, so visitors can enjoy walking or hiking. (updated Sep 2024)
• 4 Jindo Tower (진도타워), 112-41 Mangum-gil, Gunnae-myeon, Jeollanam-do Observatory, ☏ +82 061-542-0990. 09:00-18:00. It is located at the top of Manggeumsan Mountain near Jindo Bridge. You can provide convenience to tourists in cafeterias and restaurants and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. ₩1000. (updated Sep 2024)
• 5 Gagye Beach (가계해수욕장), 153 Geumgye-ri, Gogun-myeon, ☏ +82 061-540-6605. The mysterious sea road where the sea water splits, or Ganjo Yukgye-do, is 1km south, and there are many tourist attractions such as Unlimsanbang, Ssanggyesa Temple, and Yongjangsanseong Fortress. Offshore are islands such as Geumho Island and Modo Island. (updated Sep 2024)
• 6 Jindo Marine Ecological Museum (진도해양생태관), Jindo Marine Ecology Museum, 64, Mysterious Sea Road, Gogun-myeon, ☏ +82 061-540-6268. 09:00-18:00. Samples of fish living at home and abroad are displayed in the ecological museum, and there is a large aquarium in the lobby where you can observe fish living off the coast of Jindo Island such as ash defense, sea bream, and sea bass. ₩1,500. (updated Sep 2024)
• 7 Jindo Island Jinseong Fortress (진도 남도진성), 149 Namdong-ri, Imhoe-myeon, ☏ +82 061-540-3428. It is a castle from the Three Kingdoms period in Namdong-ri, Imhoe-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do. (updated Sep 2024)
• 8 Jindo Dog Theme Park (진도개테마파크), 30 Seongjukgol-gil, Jindo-eup, ☏ +82 061-540-6308. 09:00-18:00. It consists of Jindo dog promotion center, race course, dizziness course, medical center, and children's sledding course, and you can see Jindo dog sports every day. (updated Sep 2024)
• 9 [http:// http://jdlib.jne.go.kr/ Jindo Public Library] (진도공공도서관), 12, Cheolma-gil, Jindo-eup. an archive room: 09:00~18:00 a reading room: 08:00~22:00. In addition to basic library services such as book lending, reading rooms, and Internet material search, we operate various educational and cultural programs for local residents such as reading education, cultural lectures, and exhibitions. It is a public facility that plays an important role in contributing to lifelong learning and improving cultural life in the community. (updated Sep 2024)
• 10 Cheolma Park (철마공원), Cheolma-gil 17, Jindo-eup, ☏ +82 061-540-3224. In the park, there are trails and various rest facilities, so many family visitors visit. It is known as a place where the surrounding natural scenery is beautiful and local residents can comfortably walk and heal. (updated Sep 2024)

• 11 Jindo Geumgolsan Five-story Stone Pagoda (진도금골산오층석탑), 58 Geumgol-gil, Gunnae-myeon, ☏ +82 061-540-3428. The stylobate and one-story pagoda body appear to follow the style of the three-story stone pagoda in Eunseon-ri, Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, and it is interpreted that the Baekje style has spread to this place. It is said that there has been a temple called Haewolsa Temple since the Goryeo Dynasty, so the stone pagoda is also presumed to have been built around that time. (updated Sep 2024)

Mountain

• 12 Dongseok Mountain (동석산), Shimdong-ri, Jisan-myeon. It is about 255 meters above sea level. Although it is a relatively low mountain, the historical and cultural significance of the Jindo area is deep, and the surrounding natural scenery is beautiful. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the Jindo area and the sea at a glance, and the scenery that blends with the West Sea is particularly attractive. (updated Sep 2024)
• 13 Cheomchal Mountain (첨찰산), Sacheon-ri, Uisin-myeon, ☏ +82 061-544-0151. It is 485 meters tall. It is the highest rocky mountain in Jindo Island. There is a fortress that is believed to have been built during the Baekje period and the remains of Bongsudae that was installed during the Joseon Dynasty. At the bottom of the mountain are Unlim Sanbang (Jeonnam Monument 51) and Ssanggyesa Temple (Jeonnam Tangible Cultural Heritage 121) and the area around Ssanggyesa Temple and Unlim Sanbang is surrounded by evergreen forests (Natural Monument 107), which are designated as natural monuments. (updated Sep 2024)
• 14 Yeogwisan Mountain (여귀산), San 40, Sangman-ri, Imhoe-myeon. It is 457 meters high, and the top forms a rocky area that is difficult to climb, but the intelligent lines on both sides of the top are soft mountains. Starting from the Toprip bus stop and riding a rocky ridge to the top, you can see Heeyeosan Mountain, Buyongsan Mountain and Dadohae National Park at a cool glance. It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to get down to the Toprip Tourist Farm after passing through the small Yeogisan Mountain. (updated Sep 2024)
• 15 Geumgol Mountain (금골산), Deokbyeong-ri, Gunnae-myeon. Geumgol Mountain is 193m above sea level and is called Geumgang ＂ in ＂, and it is said that there are three caves on the mountain made of strange rock cliffs, a five-story stone pagoda (treasure) and a seated statue (Jeonnam Cultural Heritage Data) are engraved in the cave in the middle of the mountain, and there was a temple called Haeonsa Temple. (updated Sep 2024)

Temples

• 16 Ssanggyesa Temple in Jindo Island (진도쌍계사), 299-30 Ssanggyesa Temple, Unlimsanbang-ro, Uisin-myeon, ☏ +82 061-542-1165. Located on Cheomchalsan Mountain in Jindo-gun, this temple, which was founded by Doseon State Temple during the Silla Dynasty, was named Ssanggyesa Temple because the valley flows on both sides of the temple. (updated Sep 2024)
• 17 Jindo Pharmaceutical Company (진도약사사), Jindo Pharmacist, 5, Jukyeop-gil, (5 minutes away from Jindo Public Terminal when taking a taxi), ☏ +82 061-544-3690. 00:00 - 22:00. Located at the southwest end of Namsan Mountain, it is famous for the spiritual prayer of the Buddha. (updated Sep 2024)

Do

The mysterious sea road to Mo-do

• The Mysterious Sea Road Festival (Yeongdeung Festival (진도신비의 바닷길 축제)). Twice each year in early summer. Dates vary year to year due to tidal restrictions. Between the coastal village of Heodong-ri and the islet of Mo-do, southeast of Jin-do, some of the world's largest tides occur. During a few days in the spring (in the second month of the lunar calendar), a causeway appears, nearly 3 km long and up to 40 m wide. This natural phenomenon (translated as the Mysterious, Magical, Miracle or Mystic Sea Road or Sea Way) brings tourists interested in both the Christian parallel of the Moses Miracle, and the ancient Korean legend of Grandma Ppong, left behind when her people fled a tiger-infested Jindo for Modo, and reunited with them via this rainbow-shaped land bridge. Tourists can experience many traditional folk dances, cultural activities and dogs shows during the Mystic Sea Road Festivals. Expect to see thousands of visitors for this very limited time experience. If you plan to go to this event, it would be wise to arrive the night before, as transportation logistics to the island and then to the event from other locations in Korea can be quite challenging. 
• 1 Jindo Tourist Boat (진도관광유람선), 411 West Coast-ro, Jindo-eup, ☏ +82 0507-1487-0314. Starting from Shimi Port, it returns to Shimi Port by surrounding Jugwangdo Island (Saja Island), Blood Island called 'Hole Island', Yangdeokdo Island (toe Island), Jujido Island (Finger Island), Buldo Island with a sea cave and a thousand-year-old Buddha Tower, and the sea in front of Sebang Nakjo, which is famous for the most beautiful sunset on the Korean Peninsula. ₩25000. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Jindo Arirang Cinema (진도아리랑시네마), 6-13 Dongoe 1-gil, Jindo-eup, ☏ +82 061-544-7790. 09:00-20:00. 2D: ₩7000, 3D: ₩9000. (updated Sep 2024)

Buy

• 1 Hanaro Mart's Advanced Agricultural Cooperative Branch (하나로마트 선진농협군내점), 7964 Jindo-daero, Gunnae-myeo, ☏ +82 061-542-4283. 08:00 - 18:00. (updated Sep 2024)

Eat

The island's specialties include miyeog (Korean: 미역), a brown seaweed (Japanese, wakame), and black rice. Seafood is common, as well as other typical Korean food. The town boasts a notable number of fried chicken and fast-food establishments. Chinese Matrimony Tea (Gugija) is grown in Jin-do and said to be good for your health.

Sleep

• 1 Sol Beach Progress (쏠비치 진도), 30-40 Songgun-gil, Uisin-myeon, ☏ +82 02-1588-4888. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. This hotel is certified as a four-star hotel by the Hotel Grade Management Bureau of the Korea Tourism Association. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 First Motel (퍼스트모텔), 43, Namsan 2-gil, Jindo-eup, Jindo-gun (If you use your car, there is a motel on the right side of the Jindo police station. If you use the intercity bus, it is a 4-minute walk from Jindo Terminal.), ☏ +82 010-3497-3200. (updated Sep 2024)
• 3 Piano Motel (피아노모텔), 24, Nammun-gil, Jindo-eup (It is located 100 meters away from the Jindo public terminal, so you can see the piano motel as soon as you come out of the terminal exit.), ☏ +82 061-542-1001. (updated Sep 2024)
• 4 Jindo Star Guest House (진도스타게스트하우스), Jindo Star, 5-1 Cheolma-gil, Jindo-eup, ☏ +82 0507-1352-2833. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. You can use the free public parking lot next to the parking lot. (updated Sep 2024)

Go next

The bus terminal is in the center of town, and the coach bus back to Mokpo runs regularly until 20:30.