Ulleung-do is an island in the Sea of Japan/East Sea. Ulleung-do is about 120 kilometers from the mainland of the Korean peninsula. Volcanic in origin, the island is rocky and steep-sided. Its natural beauty makes Ulleung-do a popular tourist site. The other main source of income is fishery, including the harvest of cuttlefish (오징어), which can be seen drying in the sun in many places on Ulleung-do. Ulleung-do is the largest island in the county of the same name. It is located at 130°54' East and 37°29' North.
The main city of Ulleung-do is the port of Dodong, which serves as the main ferry port between Ulleung-do and the Korean mainland. Ferries from the city of Donghae are the most common.
Distance to Ulleung-do from other locations:
The island of Ulleung-do has an area of 73.15 km² with 10,426 inhabitants in 2000. It is 10 km from east to west and 9.5 km from north to south, with a total of 56.5 km of shoreline. As a tourist destination it is not that busy and more conducive to staying at Minbaks and reading than enjoying anything resembling a night-life. Other activities for tourists are hiking, fishing, and eating hoe (회). Sightseeing boats make regular three-hour circuits about Ulleung-do, departing from the harbor at Dodong and passing by all the points of interest along the coast, including many interesting rock formations and the tiny island of Jukdo. Other scenic sites are Seonginbong, the highest peak on the island (984 m); Bongnae waterfall; the "natural icehouse"; and a coastal cliff from which Dokdo (aka Takeshima or the Liancourt Rocks) can be seen in the distance.
There is also a certain type of mineral water on the island redeemed for being good for a person's health, but the taste definitely leaves something to be desired.
Ulleungdo is said to be lacking in three things and abundant in five:
- Three items lacking: thieves, pollution, snakes
- Five items in abundance: water, beauty, stones, wind, junipers
[edit] Administrative divisions
The island is divided into three areas:
- Buk-myeon (북면), on the north. Within buk-myeon are the following:
- Hyeonpo-ri (현포리) to the west, Na-ri (나리) in the centre, and Cheonbu-ri (천부리) to the northeast.
- Seo-myeon (서면), on the southwest. Within seo-myeon are the following:
- Taeha-ri (태하리) on the northwest, Namseo-ri (남서리) on the southwest, and Namyang-ri (남양리) on the south.
- Ulleung-eup (울릉읍), on the southeast. Within Ulleung-eup are the following:
- Jeodong-ri (저동리) on the northeast, Dodong-ri (도동리) to the northwest towards the mountains, and Sadong-ri (사동리) to the southwest.
[edit] Relationship with Dokdo
Dokdo, also known as Takeshima and the Liancourt rocks, is a small grouping of two islands little more than 100 metres in diameter about an hour from Ulleung-do that can be seen from there on a clear day. As the island is de facto owned by Korea (which has soldiers stationed on the island) there are sometimes expeditions to the island usually to show solidarity to Korea's position on the island against the Japanese government. These of course use Ulleung-do as a starting point and thus Ulleung-do has also become the site of the Dokdo Museum, a museum built in 1995 and dedicated to showing the history of the island and assumedly the position of the Korean government regarding the small islands. A quote from tour2korea.com states the following:
- Gallery 1 features materials and maps showing Dokdo as being part of Korean territory before the Sino-Japanese War; Gallery 2 displays Japanese maps showing Dokdo as being a Korean territory, and Gallery 3 displays materials on activities of Ulleungdo Island residents to defend Dokdo during the Korean War. In the outdoor Dokdo Museum, which is currently under construction, natural stones and plants indigenous of Ulleungdo Island can be enjoyed.
[edit] Transportation to Ulleung-do
Here is a list of companies where tickets to Ulleung-do can be purchased:
- Seoul Daeah Tour Company - 002-514-6766
- Pohang Passenger Ship Terminal (Daeah Headquarters) 054-242-5111(5)
- Hupo Passenger Ship Terminal 54-787-2811
- Mukho Passenger Terminal 033-531-5891
- Ulleung Passenger Ship Terminal 054-791-0801(3)
- ARS 054-791-4811(3)
Here is a list of routes to Ulleung-do, as well as an irregular route to the island of Dokdo, also known as Takeshima and a centre of tensions between Korea and Japan.
| Route | Name | Capacity | Departure from mainland | Departure from Ulleung-do | Frequency | Time required
|
| Pohang-Ulleung (Do-dong) | Sun Flower | 815 | 10:00 | 16:00 | Daily | 3 hrs
|
| Pohang-Ulleung (Jeo-dong) | Catamaran | 386 | 11:00 (Sat) | 15:30 (Sun) | Weekly | 3 hrs 30 min
|
| Mukho-Ulleung (Do-dong) | Catamaran, Hangyeorae | 386, 445 | 10:00 | 15:00 | Daily | 2 hrs 50 min, 2 hrs 30 min
|
| Ulleung (Do-dong) - Dokdo | Sun Flower | 815 | 14:00 (Ulleung) | 15:40 (Dokdo) | Irregular | 1 hour
|
Prices for the general public range from 34,000 to 51,100 won to the island. There is a bewildering variety of discounts however, including those for wounded soldiers, handicapped, children, Ulleung-do residents, groups over 20 and so on. See this page for further details on pricing.
[edit] Accomodation
Ulleong-do has a large number of methods for accomodation while on the island, ranging from at least four hotels to minbaks (sometimes translated as "inns"), as well as residents who are willing to host a homestay guest. This page has listings for the four hotels as well as 46 minbaks, and some 100 or so people that have their homes listed as potential homestays.
[edit] External links
