A holiday destination in the eyes of Koreans – leisurely enjoying the sunrise and sunset along the coastline

Text & Photos /A newlywed in Korea

Taking advantage of Korea’s consecutive holidays in May, we spontaneously planned a two-day, one-night trip to Anmyeon Island for the couple. The reason we chose Anmyeon Island was because the drive wasn’t too far (about three hours from Seoul). But, as they say, man proposes and God disposes – due to the holiday rush, it took us nearly six hours to get there.

▲ Located in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, Anmyeon Island is the country’s sixth-largest island. In 1970, a bridge (200 meters long) connecting Taean County and Anmyeon Island was opened, making it a representative island of the west coast.

Situated on Korea’s west coast, the scenic Anmyeon Island boasts lush natural forest reserves, making it an ideal place to cleanse the mind and relax the body. Its well-preserved natural ecology and coastal geography allow visitors to enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets along the shoreline.

▲ Namoonjae Resort, an island-within-an-island, features salt fields on the left where visitors can try salt-harvesting, and ocean views on the right perfect for watching the sunset.

▲ Established in 2003, Namoonjae Resort is a standalone small island covering about 25,000 pyeong (approximately 82,000 sqm). It takes nearly an hour to walk around the entire island. It has its own private beach, restaurant, café, and mini golf course, making it a highly equipped island-type resort.

Namoonjae Resort Information

▲ Beautiful garden landscaping within the resort

▲ A small pond blooming with lovely lotuses

▲ A mini golf course for guests to enjoy

▲ Pastoral European-style buildings blending with nature

▲ Gathering around a charcoal fire with friends, chatting while listening to the sound of the waves, feels incredibly cozy.

▲ The sunset in Anmyeon Island is a must-see spectacle.

▲ Various uniquely designed double rooms (accommodating up to four people)

▲ The group villa we stayed in tonight can accommodate about 10–20 people.

▲ The pink entrance gives the illusion of stepping into a fairy-tale castle.

▲ The spacious living room is equipped with a large TV and DVD player for guests to enjoy.

▲ A large dining table that can seat 20 people

▲ The double rooms inside

▲ The four-person rooms inside

▲ Whether it’s resorts or guesthouses in Korea, most come with BBQ facilities, but this resort even has a restaurant – super thoughtful.

▲ Although having grilled meat for dinner is pretty much an unwritten rule during Korean holiday trips, since this vacation was spontaneous and we didn’t want to put too much effort into preparing ingredients for grilling, we decided to drive to a nearby seafood market for a meal.

▲ This seafood market isn’t very large; it’s a small-scale market with only a few stalls.

▲ Known as the “Land of Shrimp and Crabs,” Anmyeon Island naturally has these two star products in its seafood market.

▲ A wide array of dried seafood products

▲ Fried seafood sold fresh at the market

▲ After visiting the seafood market, we opted for Anmyeon Island’s signature spicy shrimp and crab soup. The shop owner said May is peak season for spring crabs, when the crabs have particularly tender meat and are full of roe – just hearing about it made my mouth water, and I couldn’t wait to taste the delicious crabs.

▲The abundance of bean sprouts and Chinese cabbage in the vegetables adds a touch of sweetness to the spicy shrimp and crab hot pot.

▲As the temperature rises, the broth begins to boil, releasing an enticing aroma.

▲The side dishes provided by the restaurant

▲Packed with crab roe, it's full of nutrients.

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