WITH THE semester halfway through, I found that the pressures of attending school began to erode my happiness. Thus, I decided to take special measures to dispel the monotony of my everyday life by doing what many people do: going on a trip with my family. As I was searching for a getaway near Seoul, I came across Wolmi island and became intrigued. 

Wolmi Island

   Wolmi Island is a perfect getaway location because it has a wide variety of charms. It is a location where you can find yourself beside a tranquil sea without feeling lonely or isolated. Indeed, I was not the only tourist attracted to this place and there were many others around me. Wolmi Island has been a famous tourist attraction near the Seoul Metropolitan Area since the 1990s. During the 1980s, several amusement parks were built on the shore of the island and it quickly gained popularity as a primary marine tourist destination. The name of the island comes from its shape which resembles the tail of the moon. But since the sea between the island and the mainland has been filled, it has become difficult to find the island’s original form. 

The seaside

   When I arrived at Wolmi Island, as I was worried that the sun would set, I rushed to see the sea. It was amazing. Wolmi Island is located in the western part of Incheon, meaning that the sea you can see from the island is the west sea of Korea. Upon reaching the seaside, we noticed that there was no beach, but a deep blue sea that had charms of its own.   

   By the seaside, people were reaching out to the seagulls to feed them snacks. The sight of countless seagulls circling overhead to eat was spectacular. The immense number of seagulls reminded me of Jonathan Livingston Seagull—making me wonder if one of them ever flew  into a rock. 

   Walking along the seaside, I found a set of stairs made from rocks leading down to the sea. Looking at the stairs, I realized that if I wished to, I could literally walk into the sea—sort of like a swimming pool. Since the tides were raised it was not a good idea to walk into the sea, but at low tide, the seabed would have shown itself and it would have been easily approachable. It was fascinating because I could feel the mysteriousness of nature. There were also people fishing, which increased the charm of the island. 

Monuments along the water’s edge

   As I ventured along the seaside, I could notice the various sculptures installed. The sculpture of a pair of red angel wings was particularly memorable. It was titled Crazy Love so I assumed that it was placed there for lovers and families to take pictures together. I used to have a bad impression of monuments like these, which are often made by local governments without much concern for aesthetics. However, as I took pictures of my parents standing in front of those wings, I began to feel that these sculptures provided an easy way of making happy memories.

   Another memorable monument for me was the monument of soldiers. This monument was made to commemorate the occupation of Wolmi Island by the United Nations (UN) forces in September, 1950. Although I knew about the Incheon Landing Operation prior to this trip, I did not know that Wolmi Island was one of the subjects of landing and occupation. When looking at this sculpture, I felt that it was in disharmony with its surroundings. The strong hearts and sacrifices of the soldiers felt so contrary to the peace of the present.  

   In addition, benches and bridges that offered beautiful views of the sea were also very popular among tourists at the water’s edge. These bridges seemed like a great place to take pictures to savor memories and post on social media. 

   There was also a stage, and people, mostly middle-aged, were having fun singing and dancing along to trot music[1]. Watching and listening to the high-spirited people made me feel the liveliness of people. 

The streets

   There were a lot of stores noticeable in the commercial area. From coffee shops to raw fish and grilled clam restaurants, the stores gave off a unique atmosphere. The peculiar mixture of seafood restaurants, arcades, and street food stalls that sold junk food was something to be found only on Wolmi Island. Next time I come here, I wish to spend some relaxing time with a cup of coffee in the coffee shop, staring at the vast sea. It was also interesting to see a recently added feature of Wolmi Island that often passed by: the monorail available from Incheon Station. The railroads also helped to add on to the distinctive sight of Wolmi Island. As I walked towards the amusement parks of Wolmi Island, I was able to notice the bright colored buildings which added to the distinct aesthetic of the island. 

The amusement park

   As I am a big fan of amusement parks, I had planned to ride the attractions. However, because there was a system where individuals had to pay separately for each ride, the costly prices of the rides stopped me. As a result, I decided against using the attraction and was satisfied with simply viewing it. Still, since it would take more time and money to visit other amusement parks, I did get the impression that riding one or two attractions would not be such a bad decision. 

   Even though I made the decision not to ride the attractions, I felt a fascinating thrill merely by observing them. The viking was especially captivating because of how high it was soaring. A colorful ferris wheel was also readily available to families and couples on dates. They blended together to create a lovely scene. 

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   The brief excursion to Wolmi Island was quite helpful in reviving my spirit and banishing my gloominess. The vast blue ocean had effectively dispelled my blues and the sparkles of cheerful vibrant people had nicely lifted my spirits. For a pleasant little escape from daily life, Wolmi Island is the ideal destination.

[1] Trot music: A genre of Korean music