MY ROOM is my sanctuary. Binging on Netflix all day and taking frequent naps helped me evade responsibility and pressure from the outside world. The comfort of my room has not only deprived my life of spontaneity and excitement, but it has also distanced me from my family. I realized that as I grow older and become busier, I will have fewer chances to go on a trip with them. Before I run out of time, I decided to travel with my family to a place I have never been before—Yok-ji Island. Located 30 km Southwest of Tong-yeong[1], Yok-ji Island is famous for its beautiful coastal scenery and its locally produced sweet potatoes[2]. From feeding seagulls to riding a monorail for the first time, traveling to Yok-ji Island allowed me to forge new memories with my family that I will cherish forever.
Ferry ride to Yok-ji Island
To get to Yok-ji Island, you can take a ferry from Tong-yeong Ferry Terminal. During the weekends, the price for the round-trip tickets for adults is ₩27,000, while during the weekdays, it is ₩24,800. Moreover, the boat can carry cars for a price of ₩61,600. Although the price is expensive, it is generally recommended that you bring your own car to Yok-ji Island so that you can explore the island at your own pace; finding suitable transportation can be difficult on the island. There are no taxis at Yok-ji Island, but you can tour around by riding the Yok-ji Village Bus. After paying for the tickets, we boarded the ferry and departed to Yok-ji Island at 6:30 a.m.
During the voyage, my cousins and I went to the top floor of the ferry to get a better view of the sea. My aunt gave us a bag of shrimp-flavored crackers for us to feed the seagulls. We saw some of them flying above us, so we threw a volley of crackers into the air. We were astonished as we were able to attract more than 20 seagulls. It has been far too long since I have spent time with my cousins.
Suspension bridge, Pelican Rock, and sweet potato donuts
After we arrived at Yok-ji Island, we began looking for a well-known suspension bridge. Beside the road, there is a short pathway downwards that leads to the bridge. The bridge is about 20 m high, and below it you can see coastal rocks with waves crashing against them. As I took my first steps onto the suspension bridge, I was surprised by how shaky it was. When we finally crossed, we found ourselves on a spacious rocky cliff called Pelican Rock. By the edge of the cliff, you can see a view of the ocean stretching beyond the horizon. Make sure you bring a camera or a fully charged phone. With the vast sea behind you, this is a great vantage point to take pictures with your family or friends.
To take a quick break after your walk from Pelican Rock, I suggest you stop by the nearby roadside café and donut shop. Sermero Cafe sells coffee, yogurt smoothie, tea, and other beverages and snacks, while Yok-ji Sweet Potato Donuts serves—you guessed it—sweet potato donuts. Sermero Cafe was closed at the time, but luckily the donut shop was open. We bought one box which contained six warm donuts with a sweet potato filling, perfect for the cold weather, for only ₩15,000. To my surprise, kelp is another main ingredient in the donut, which supposedly adds to its nutritional value. They tasted so good that we decided to buy another box for my grandaunt. If you do come to Yok-ji Island, you should definitely try these donuts and buy another box for someone dear to you. After I wolfed down my relatively healthy snack, we headed for the Tong-yeong Yok-ji Island Monorail.
Sit back and enjoy the view
At the Tong-yeong Yok-ji Island Monorail, you can ride a monorail that can accommodate up to eight passengers to the top of Mt. Cheonwang. Since my aunt and cousins reside in Tong-yeong, they got a discount and only had to pay ₩9,000 for a round-trip ticket. However, my mother, my little brother, and I each had to pay ₩5,000. It takes about 16 minutes for the monorail to trek up the mountain. It was my first time riding a monorail. I was a bit nervous because it looked unstable, but the journey up was quite comfortable. As you traverse higher and higher, you can see the sea below you and greenery alongside the rail. You can also occasionally see groups of people riding the monorails in your opposite direction; make sure to wave at them. Finally, we were dropped off at an observation deck on the top of the mountain, where we could see the entirety of Yok-ji Island and the distant ocean. After relishing the view and taking more photos, we descended the mountain on the monorail. By the time we reached the bottom, we had worked up an appetite for lunch.
A family meal
Our lunch was inspired by one of my favorite mukbangers, Tzuyang. We chose to have lunch at the Jang-sun-seng restaurant where she ate. Just like Tzuyang, we ordered a huge bowl of brisket soybean paste stew for ₩10,000 and cold, spicy buckwheat noodles with slices of raw fish for ₩15,000. We also ordered kim-chi stew, which cost ₩8,000, and the king katsu—a huge, crispy cutlet—for ₩10,000. I thoroughly enjoyed the brisket soybean paste stew. You could really taste the fresh soybeans and with sizeable chunks of tender meat. As for the noodles, I loved their chewiness and how the spicy, cool, and sweet flavors nicely complemented one another. The king katsu was meaty and crunchy. However, I was not a fan of the kim-chi stew because it tasted sour, but surprisingly my aunt and cousins enjoyed it. Regardless, it was a filling and delicious lunch. While enjoying our meal, my family and I recounted the fun memories we made on the island. Finally, at 4:30 p.m., we got on the ferry and returned to Tong-yeong.
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We are usually preoccupied with school, work, or maybe a new Netflix series, but we should still take the time to travel with our family. Going to Yok-ji Island made me realize no matter how much I enjoy time alone, spending time with family is equally important. Whether you travel to Yok-ji Island or somewhere different with loved ones, you will be thankful for the time you dedicated to being with them.
[1] Yonhap News Agency
[2] badaland.com