Jeollanam-do, a magical spot without mass tourism (yet)
Even South Korea is an ultra-developed country, believe it or not, it has some hidden gems left up its sleeve.
One great example is Jeollanam-do, which I visited for the first time during Spring.
This largely undiscovered region (also known as the South Jeolla province or Jeonnam) is the cleanest and greenest part of South Korea, and I could clearly see why, having spent time in the region. It is extremely isolated too - there are over 2,000 offshore islands, only of which less than 300 are inhabited.
But my favourite thing about Jeollanam-do? It has to be the nature.
There are towering mountains. Farms dominate the landscape. And I finally understood the meaning of rolling hills, with plenty passing me by as I sat in a car and dreamily gazed out the window. Thousands of islands stretch along the 6,100-kilometre coastline, each one with magnificent sea views and the cold, crisp Korean air potent with the smell of fresh produce.
And don't get me started on the food - Jeollanam-do's variety is unique, rich, and complex. As far as seafood goes, it doesn't get any fresher than over here. I probably ate the most seafood in my life during the time I spent here (not that I'm complaining, of course).
Jeollanam-do being an agricultural region, is brimming with fresh produce. Think live abalone that "jiggles" when cooked on a hot stone plate, yangnyeom gejang (a spicy marinated raw crab dish that you must fill with fragrant rice), and stir-fried octopus - juicy, chewy, and addictive.
And interestingly, it's not just the seafood that's plentiful. Every restaurant serves up a generous amount of banchan (side dishes), with each tiny plate dutifully restocked once you are done with them (to be fair, I didn't have the stomach capacity to ask for seconds since I was pretty stuffed to begin with).
In any case, Jeollanam-do is a beautiful place and one of Korea's few remaining secrets, away from the mainstream and all the crowds that come with it.
If you've been endlessly thinking of where to visit in Korea for your next trip, Jeollanam-do is an exceptional choice.
Things to do in Jeollanam-do - where to go and what to see
Sinan County
1. Horse riding
Sinan County is home to Daegwang Beach, the longest beach in South Korea. Fun fact: it takes three hours to walk the length of it, and one of the most fun and scenic things to do is horse-riding along the coast.
I was living my Red Dead Redemption and Arthur Morgan dreams and my horse was a pure force of nature. But my favourite thing about this beach was probably the pretty coast that stretched from end to end - it truly is a superb spot to catch the sun dipping beneath the horizon.
2. Sinan Tulip Park
Next to Daegwang Beach is the Sinan Tulip Park, where every year there is an annual tulip festival, usually held around April - something for you to consider if you have a trip around that time and want to catch gorgeous, eye-catching tulips in bloom.
I'm not one for taking photos of flowers. Even then, I couldn't help myself snapping multiple shots of the pretty windmill that was propped right in the middle of the tulip field - I felt like I was in Netherlands instead of Korea!
3. Go for a salt bath
Taepyeong Salt Farm Maritime Healing Spa - remember the name.
It's where you'll find the utmost bliss and relaxation with a visit to a salt cave healing room, a relaxing room made entirely of sun-dried salt. Lie down on the heated salt and laze away; your body's tension eases up and unwinds.
I even dozed off after awhile. It must've been the ultra-fine nano particles of salt absorbing minerals and iodines from my body.
And if you have the time, you can also try out mineral floating therapy, which lets you "experience" what it's like to float in the Dead Sea or to feel like a baby in its mother's womb.
4. Purple Island
The Purple Island in Korea is a magical Instagram spot and an island that is, well, you guessed it, adorned in everything purple, from houses to bridges and whatever else you can think of. Don't miss the lavender fields, with 30,000 New England asters dancing in brilliant hues of violet.
5. Mokpo Cable Car
With its cabins overlooking the sea and panoramic views of Yudalsan Mountain, Mokpo Bridge, and rows upon rows of weathered low-rise buildings, the Mokpo Marine Cable Car is a must-do in the city. If you're lucky, you can even catch cherry blossoms embellishing the trees from up high in the sky!
I highly recommend taking the crystal cabin for a breathtaking perspective of the forest and the ocean floor below. You can even go for a short hike afterwards to head to a panoramic viewpoint that offers stunning vistas of the city.
6. Sihwa Alley
An incredibly unique thing to do in Mokpo is to check out Sihwa Alley, a mural village and a famous filming location for many K-dramas. Eat old-school Korean snacks, navigate a cluster of houses through narrow alleyways, and reach the top to catch a spectacular view of Mokpo.
One popular spot is Yeonhee's Supermarket (연희네슈퍼), which was featured in the film "1987: When the Day Comes."
7. Climb Yudalsan mountain
Yudalsan is not an exceptionally high mountain. In fact, it's more of a hill with a height of 228 meters. But climbing up here will reward you with fabulous vistas of Mokpo. Check out the five pagodas throughout the mountain and the monument with lyrics to the song "Mokpo's Tears."
Yeosu
8. Yeosu Cable Car
Another fantastic cable car to hop on for superb views is the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car. The first of its kind in Korea, this cable car was the first to connect Dolsan Island and the mainland. Again, sit back, relax, and enjoy spectacular views in crystal cabins that take you over Yeosu's Dodo Sea and Dolsan Bridge.
9. Ramada Hotel Zip Trek
Surprisingly, one of the most exciting things to do in Yeosu is at a hotel.
Adrenaline junkies, heed my advice and head straight to Ramada Hotel, where you can try Korea's highest rooftop zipline, 24 stories tall.
The scariest bit is right before you take off. But once you overcome the initial fear, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the coastline and hills on this 1.2-kilometre zipline.
Trust me, it was exhilarating and something I'd definitely do again. As you can imagine the zipline took us pretty far away from the hotel. But everything was made smooth, easy, and convenient for us with a pick-up van waiting for us at the point where we ended the zipline to ferry us back to Ramada.
10. Arte Museum
Have you been sorely lacking in content creation ideas for TikTok and Instagram? Well then, Yeosu's Arte Museum is just for you. Get those creative juices flowin'.
You will need it when you pose for photos or take potentially viral videos at immersive, sensory-rich exhibitions. My favourite was Shooting Star - an ethereal, fantasy-like mirror landscape of illuminating, star-like lanterns.
11. Parasailing
The literal translation of Yeosu is "beautiful waters." So is it a surprise that one of the top things to do in Yeosu is parasailing? Hop on a yacht as you get whisked into the air four to five stories above the sea.
After the adrenaline rush of getting swooped up in the parachute, you'll be blessed with immaculate views of the surrounding islands.
But my favourite thing about this was that blissful feeling of peace and being one with nature that I got as the wind gently caressed my hair.
Suncheon
12. Suncheon Bay National Garden
Here's one word for Suncheon Bay Garden: stunning.
The park has beautiful themed gardens, spiral hills, and a gorgeous canola flower field. You can even enjoy glamping at a Garden Stay. But head straight to the Dutch Garden and check out the scenic windmill.
Also, some of the things you don't want to miss in Suncheon is to stop by the Korean Medicine Experience Center, sip on hot Ssanghwa tea, and enjoy a foot bath. Trust us, people will be FOMO because of you, but in a good way!
13. Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve
The Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve is a must-visit for nature lovers visiting Jeollanam-do. This pristine park is home to Korea's biggest colony of reeds, each taller than the average man.
What's magical is coming here and watching the reeds delicately swaying in the wind. It's truly a special place to get in touch with nature at Suncheon. Bird-watchers can also check out over 140z species, including the Oriental White Stork and black-faced spoonbill.
And if you're up for a challenge, work your legs as you hike up to Yongsan Observatory, a vista point that offers incredible views of Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve's s-shaped river.
14. Suncheon Open Film Location
K-drama fans, rejoice! You'll fall in love with the Suncheon Open Film Location. Come here for some serious retro fever at this "village" created in 2006 for filming movies and TV shows. You can experience the 50s, 60s, and 70s all at once and even rent old-school costumes too!
15. Naganeupseong Walled Town
No Suncheon bucket list is complete without a trip to the Naganeupseong Walled Town. It's the most well-maintained fortress town in Korea. And there are people still living within its ancient walls, calling these medieval thatched-roof houses home and still essentially maintaining the ways of the past.
Other things to know about Jeollanam-do
What is Jeollanam-do known for?
Being a coastal region, Jeollanam-do is best known for its impeccable seafood, fresh agricultural produce, and untouched natural beauty - some of the most unspoilt in Korea.
How to go to Jeollanam-do?
Like anywhere else in Korea, you can hop on a KTX train. The journey isn't long (almost four hours from Seoul) and will set you back roughly 27,000 Won to 70,000 Won. Or you could always get unlimited KTX rides to maximise your spending. You can also hop on a bus or take a plane - the choice is yours!