Wando County | A Hidden Gem in South Korea

🚩Visa: To travel to South Korea, you'll need to obtain a South Korean tourist visa in advance. Prepare the necessary documents and apply at the South Korean embassy or consulate in your country, or use a reputable travel agency. 🌡️Climate: Wando County has a warm and humid temperate climate with distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are relatively short, summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold and dry with occasional snowfall. The average summer temperature ranges from 25°C to 30°C, while the average winter temperature ranges from -5°C to 5°C. ⛅️ ✈️Transportation: • External Transportation: You can first arrive at Incheon International Airport or Gimpo International Airport in South Korea, and then take a long-distance bus to Wando County from the airport. There are direct buses from Incheon International Airport to Wando County, with a journey time of approximately 4–5 hrs and a fare of around KRW 30,000–40,000. • Internal Transportation: Within Wando County, public buses are the main mode of public transport, but they are infrequent and have limited operating hours. If you want to explore more freely, it is recommended to rent a car or take a taxi. The starting fare for taxis is generally around KRW 3,000–3,500. 🍱Food: • Wando Abalone: Wando County is known as the "hometown of abalone," with abalone production accounting for over 80% of South Korea's total output. The abalone here is fresh and plump. You can try it raw, dipped in Korean chili sauce, for a chewy texture. Grilled abalone is also not to be missed, sizzling on the grill with a rich aroma. There's also abalone porridge, which is both nutritious and delicious, perfect for a comforting meal when you're feeling unwell. Recommended restaurant: [Specific restaurant name], located at 11, Haebyeon Gongwon-ro 124-gil, Wando-eup, Wando-gun. Open daily from 07:30 to 20:00. • Abalone Bread: A creative combination of abalone and bread. Each loaf is freshly handmade and contains a whole, cleaned abalone, baked in limited quantities. A bite offers the wheaty aroma of bread and the delicious taste of abalone. You can find it in some local specialty bakeries or cafes. 🏞️Attractions: • Dadohaehaesang National Park: The largest marine national park in South Korea, spanning Wando County, Goheung County, Jindo County, Sinan County, and Yeosu City. There are over 1,700 islands here, like natural sculptures inlaid on the azure sea. You can admire the beautiful scenery of blue sky, blue sea, and white sandy beaches, as well as lush pine forests. Among them, Hongdo Island, famous for its sunset views, and Jindo Island, where the "Moses Miracle" occurs, are most worth visiting. • Wando Tower: Standing on Wando Tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Wando's beautiful scenery. During the day, you can see the vast sea and scattered islands. At night, with thousands of lights twinkling, Wando Tower transforms into a magical tower with ever-changing illuminations. • Cheongsando Island: Designated as a Slow City in 2007, the first in Asia. It boasts beautiful natural scenery. Every April, the canola flowers bloom, creating a sea of gold. May is a sea of flowers. In autumn, the rice paddies and cosmos intertwine, resembling a beautiful pastoral painting. ❗Important Notes: • In most public places in South Korea, you are required to remove your shoes. Remember to take off your shoes when entering restaurants, private homes, temples, and other places to maintain indoor cleanliness. • When dining in restaurants, some side dishes are usually provided free of charge, and you can ask for refills if needed. If you want to order alcohol, Korean soju generally has an alcohol content of around 20%. • When using public transport, pay attention to the schedules and operating hours to avoid delays. If you rent a car, familiarize yourself with South Korean traffic rules in advance. • Regarding language, although English is spoken to some extent in South Korea, communication in English may not be very smooth in smaller places like Wando County. You can download translation apps or prepare some common Korean phrases.