By Honorary Reporter Alice Hong from Canada
Photos = Alice Hong

From Oct. 20-22, I took part in a program about the islands of Sinan-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. Organized by Better World, a non-governmental organization renowned for its work camps, both Koreans and foreign participants attended this event.

Our expedition began at Mokpo Station and we were guided toward a series of islands connected by roads and bridges. Among the islands we visited were Amtaedo, Aphaedo, Jaeundo, Banwoldo (Purple Island) and Soakdo (12 Pilgrims Island). The county has more than 1,004 islands yet the locals often mention this number due to its association with the word cheonsa, which can mean both "1,004" and "angel" in Korean, adding a touch of regional charm.

One of our initial stops was the community center, which taught us about the unique nature of the islands, with an activist based in Sinan-gun discussing the challenges county residents face. Afterwards, we dined at a restaurant serving raw fish served with rice and vegetables and eventually reached our accommodations, a welcome sight after a long journey.  

Our Saturday adventure led us to Baekgil Beach, where we took plenty of selfies. Next was a talk by James Turrell, a renowned American photographer known as the "magician of light" who discussed why he focuses on light as the subject when many artists use it as a tool. His Korean wife also attended his lecture. 

This event was part of the World Island Cultural Diversity Forum, a gathering of island nations to discuss sustainability and tourism. The county is an active participant in this event. 

To mark Festival Month, we attended other events. At Museum Park, a concert had a hundred pianos playing in unison and at Experience Zone, my friend and I made our own gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and explored World Shell Museum. Lunch consisted of a flavorful spicy fish stew.

Our day wouldn't have been complete without a visit to Purple Island, where everything was in that color from rooftops to bridges and even the flowers. Admission was free for those wearing something purple or using a purple accessory, and we received purple raincoats. It took over two hours to explore the area, with breaks for snacks and coffee at the midway point. The island offered cozy cafes and delectable street food, making the cold and windy weather more bearable. 

The Korea.net YouTube video below is about this magical place:

On Sunday, we took a ferry to Soakdo Island, which had donation-based cafe run by local Kim Hyun-woo. Born and raised on the island, he educates others about island life despite his parents' desire for him to pursue a career in a big city. He said living on an island is now more convenient with online shopping and advanced bathrooms, but added that Soakdo needs more development to accommodate more visitors. This experience showed how the island's door is always open thanks to people like Kim.

We explored pilgrimage sites for several religions. Thanks to the low tide, we could reach places that would otherwise have been separated by water like mud flats, tree-covered small mountains and steep hills.

After lunch at the cafe, we boarded the ferry and headed back to Mokpo Station. As I bid farewell to Shinan-gun, my heart was filled with gratitude for the incredible experience and memories created during this unique adventure.

The program was conducted in Korean, which initially made me nervous as I had to boost my vocabulary. But I'm glad I went as this trip wasn't just an opportunity for me to explore the islands but also to meet new people and learn more about myself.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary
Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.