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Voykit pocket guide · South Korea
Hongdo
Take a 3‑hour boat tour from Mokpo and spend a day on Hongdo; overnight stay not needed unless you want a quiet night.
Hongdo is a remote 6.5 km² island in the Yellow Sea, reachable only by ferry from Mokpo. Most attractions are limited to a short boat circuit and a few walking paths, so a single day suffices for most visitors.
- Country
- South Korea
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, fewer services)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KRW
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, convenience stores and many market stalls; carry ₩30,000–50,000 in cash for street food, small markets and temple donations.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₩60,000–80,000 excl. ferry · Mid ₩80,000–120,000 excl. ferry (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at airport arrivals; a passport is required, and data-only plans are cheapest.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 60 Hz · Round two-pin European plugs fit; US and UK plugs need an adapter, and US-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and cafés: No tip; a service charge appears only in top hotels.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Hotel porter: Not expected; ₩1,000–2,000 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not expected; ₩10,000–20,000 or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Officially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free. Bottles cost ₩800–1,500 at convenience stores.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in every subway station; paper goes in the toilet in new buildings, in the bin where a sign asks. Bidets are common.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ferry ticket (one way) | ₩75,000 |
| Fresh fish dish | ₩8,000–15,000 |
| Beer (draft) | ₩3,000–4,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MWX · Muan International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Mokpo → Hongdo ferry (round trip)
- about ₩75,000, 180 min each way (check schedule)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Ferry from Mokpo (180 min, ₩75,000) is the only public link; within the island, walk only on designated paths or use a second‑village boat service.
See and do
Known for
- Red‑hued cliffs
- Sightseeing boat tour
- Local seafood
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mokpo | Ferry from Hongdo Harbor, 180 min each way | ≈6 h round trip |
Sleep
- Hongdo Tourist Motel
- Basic rooms in the island town; limited availability.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 죄송합니다joesonghamnida |
| Thank you | 감사합니다kamsahamnida |
| How much is it? | 얼마예요?eolmayeyo? |
| Do you accept credit cards? | 카드 받으세요?kadeu badeuseyo? |
| Where is the ferry? | 배는 어디에요?baeneun eodieyo? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A slight bow with a 'annyeonghaseyo'; handshake with the right hand, left hand touching the right forearm; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Age and rank: Expect to be asked your age; it sets how people speak to you. Let the eldest sit and start first; avoid: Calling older people by their given name
- Handing things: Two hands for money, cards, gifts and drinks; avoid: Passing things with one hand to older people
- Subway: Quiet voices, bags off seats, queue at the marked lines; avoid: Priority and pink pregnancy seats, even when empty
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or a boxed gift; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Writing names in red ink — it is used for the dead
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees; bow at the main hall; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; loud talk; pointing at Buddha statues
- Numbers: Know that 4 is unlucky; buildings may show F instead of a fourth floor; avoid: Giving gifts in sets of four
- Sensitive topics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Comparing Korea with Japan or China casually; jokes about the North, the Japanese colonial era, or plastic surgery
Scams and watch-outs
- Credit cards often fail on the island; carry cash.
- Most of the island is a protected marine park; access is limited to marked trails.
- Ferry schedule may change seasonally; check dates before travel.
Generally safe; main risks are slippery rocks on coastal walks and limited medical facilities.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hongdo yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Red‑hued cliffs
- Sightseeing boat tour
- Local seafood
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Hongdo: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Hongdo, revision 4990345 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4990345
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hongdo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.