Daebudo

Daebudo is an island that is part of Ansan city in the province of Gyeonggi, South Korea.

Daebudo is known as 'the Hawaii of Ansan'. The northern tip of the island is connected to the Ansan mainland by the Sihwa seawall, which has a road running along it. However, Daebudo still has the romance and lyricism of an island in various places.

  • Daebudo tourist office, 1531, Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu (take bus 123 or 790 and get off at 'Bangameori dock (방아머리선착장)', +82 1899-1720. 10:00–17:00. Located at the entrance to Daebudo from the Sihwa seawall, you can find all tourist information here. The help desk is on the first floor, the permanent exhibition hall on the second floor, and the observatory on the third floor. You can access free Wi-Fi here.

Fishing ships in Daebudo

  • Ansan Fishing Village Folk Museum, 7, Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-886-0126. 09:00–18:00. Holiday on M. You can see the history of west coast foreshore and fishing village at Daebudo. You can directly experience the fishing industry culture and traditional folk in the fishing village of Ansan. Adult: ₩2,000, Soldiers and teenager: ₩1,500, Children : ₩1,000.
  • Ansan Sihwaho Tidal Power Plant, Choji-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 32-885-7530. A tidal power plant that is located in Ansan, and the largest tidal power plant in the world.
  • Chungmunkyu Museum, 153-9, Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-881-2753. 11:00–19:00. The representative museum in Daebudo. You can enjoy exhibition and concert together. Adult: ₩3,000, Children and teenager: ₩2,000.
  • Daebudo Bada Hyanggi Theme Park, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 31-481-3409. You can take a walk in Daebudo Bada Hynaggi Theme Park. The park is full of beauty of nature. The walk is about 4.3km and water way and pond are nicely laid out. The five windmills, the landmark of Daebudo,are displayed in the park.
  • Daebudo Bangameori Food Culture Street, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu. This is the food culture street that is located at the north Daebudo. The most famous food is 'Bajilack noodle soup'. It is a noodle soup with clams. The Daebudo Bangameori Food Culture Street also known as 'Bajilack Noodle Soup Street'. You can enjoy sliced raw fish, a shellfish baked, Soy Sauce Marinated Crab, Soybean paste stew with clams and more.
  • Grande de Haute Perche, Coteaux Winery, 107, Ppeokkuksan-gil, Danwon-gu, +82 32-886-9873. A winery that makes the wine with Daebudo grapes.
  • Gubongdo Island, San 25, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu. Nine mountaintop located the end of the seaside. situated in the northern part of Daebu, named 'Gubongdo' becuase they have nine mountaintop. caught sight of towering two big rocks. The small one called 'Garandmother' and the bigger one is called 'Grandfather. Sunset you can see between this two is amazing. Not only beautiful scenery, but there are many enjoyable attractions. there are places you can enjoy camping, fishing etc.
  • Nueseom Lighthouse Observatory, S17-156, Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-886-0126. March to October: 09:00–18:00, November to February: 09:00–17:00, Holiday on M. Only 4 hr with two times, it is possible to enter to the Nue island. Nue means silkworm in Korean. The shape of the island looks like a silkworm, so the name is island has made. free.
  • Pungdo Island, Pungdo-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 31-481-2000. Pungdo is different with other island that its depth of water is deep. So, it does not have the mud flat and beach. According to this conditions, it is on very rich fishing grounds like rock fish, rock trout, blue crab and more. The boat service is only one time a day.
  • Sihwaho Tidal Power Plant, 2098, Daebudong-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 32-890-6520. Built in 2011, the world's biggest tidal power plant which can produce energy available for half a million a year. If you'd like to watch the view of this plant, you are recommended to go 'T-Light' park. There is Moon Observatory in this park, so you can enjoy sunset of the west coast. Admission free. The easiest way to get here is take bus 123 and get off at Sihwaho Tidal Power Plant.
  • Ssanggyesa Temple, 1171, Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu (http://www.ssanggyesa.com/sub1_5.php, +82 32-886-2110. Daebudo's only Buddhist temple
  • Tando Island, Seongam-dong, Danwon-gu. Tando is the forth biggest island following the Daebudo, Sungam island, and Booldo. It is famous for the observatory at Nue island. There are many visitors who are fishing with family. It is not appropriate for playing or swimming in the sea. However, it is great place for enjoying the quiet sea.
  • Yukdo Island, Poongdo-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 32-886-3090, +82 1544-1114. Yukdo is the island that 6 small-sized island together. About 30 citizens live in Yukdo and most of them work in the fishing. You can visit Yukdo by boat. There is 2 way for boat way, Daebudo to Yukdo and Incheon to Yukdo. It isn't that famous for travellers, so if you want quite and relax travel, you can enjoy the quiet sea of Yukdo.

Mudflat experience in Daebudo

The mud flat in western sea of South Korea is one of the 5 largest mud flats in the world. The gap between in/out of tide is huge, which makes Daebu's mud flat much more fertile than others. Especially after the tide's out, hidden black mud flat comes out, which is the most beautiful part of Daebudo. You can find various marine creatures in the wetlands while the tide is out. If you'd like to experience this mud flat as it is, do not hesitate to choose mud flat activities. You can easily find people who are trying to catch various marine creatures such as shellfish, razor clams, small octopuses and small crabs on the mud flat. This activity is especially famous regionally for families because parents want to give a precious memory to their children. The mud flat activity is generally open through spring to fall.

Daebudo's salt field produces bay salt, using the traditional, old-fashioned method of salt-making. This is a very suitable place to produce salt because there is plenty of wind and sunshine. Bay salt is known for good health, because it has lots of minerals. According to a study by Gyeonggi Institute of Health & Environment, salt from here, analysed by ingredients, is more healthful compared to 'Guérande' bay salt from France, which is well known for high quality of salt in the world. That's because salt from Daebudo is made by 'Kkaempari', which means pieces of pottery. That's why salt from here are called as 'Kkaempari salt'. These pieces of pottery simplify the collection of minerals. Not only you can buy this bay salt, but you can make salt, yourself. Go to the 'Dongju Salt Field' website for more information. You can make your own salt with plenty of explanation. Dongju Salt Field, 240, Gubong-gil, Danwon-gu (http://www.djsalt.co.kr/front/php/newpage.php?code=7, +82 10-5441-6829. There are 4 experiences on offer in the Dongju Salt Field: Education about the salt field, salt production experience, making colorful salt pillars, and making soap with bay salt.

Stacking fishing nets in Daebudo

  • Jonghyeon Fishing Village, 240, Gubong-gil, Danwon-gu (http://vill.seantour.com/Vill/About/Route.aspx?fvno=3108, +82 32-886-6044. There are various experience in Jonghyeon Fishing Village, mud flat ecology education, sledding at mud flat, catching a mudfish with bare hands, fishing mudskipper, grape picking, making grape juice, making topiaries, planting grape trees, marine leports and more.
  • Seongam Fishing Village, 95-2, Gaegeonneo-gil, Danwon-gu (http://vill.seantour.com/Vill/About/Route.aspx?fvno=3101, +82 32-886-61331. There are various experience in Seongam Fishing Village, shell gathering, fishing with a net, sledding at mud flat, grape picking, sweet potato picking experience, riding all-terrain vehicle, painball game, potato picking experience, and more.

There are several festivals in Daebudo featuring distinctive regional characteristics.

  • Ansan Daebu Grape Festival, Galmaji-gil, Danwon-gu. Grape is well known local products in Daebudo. It is held in September every other year. In festival, you enjoy many kinds of special food with grape and other events like Miss Daebu grape contest, singing contest and quiz contest etc.
  • Ansan M Valley Rock Festival, 1848-253, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 02 446 2690. This is one of the biggest rock festivals in Korea. It is held every year around July, with many famous domestic and foreign artists.

  • Daebudo Glass Island, 254, Buheung-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-885-6262. Tu–Su 09:00–19:00 in Apr–Oct, 09:30–18:30 in Nov–Mar, Monday is holiday. The Daebudo Glass Island is also known as the Murano of Korea. The products that made from glass are exported to almost all of countries in the world. There are glass-garden that display various arts, exhibition that display modern glass art creator, craft showcase and more. Also, there are various experience programs that you can make glass cup, glass accessories, key holder, aroma lamp and more craft yourself. Adult: ₩10,000, Teenager: ₩9,000, Children: ₩8,000, Before 7: free.
  • Gyeonggi Creation Center, 101-19, Seongam-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-890-4880. 10:00–18:00, Monday is holiday. The Gyeonggi Creation Center is run by Province Gyeonggi and support native and foreign artists to create and study. Various artists who are chosen by contest exhibition exhibit their arts. There are mentoring program, lecture from artists, seminar, workshops and more various programs. More information about exhibition will be updated on the official website.
  • Sejong Pottery Center, 255, Seongam-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-325-6699. 10:00–18:00. The Sejong Pottery Center has built to give wider publicity to other people. This center can accommodate 600 people and it provide various programs that is systematically organized. You can participate the programs like salt pond experience, mud flat experience, etiquette lessons, or dye experience. Moreover, there are pottery programs that you can make your own pottery and color it. The programs start from ₩10,000

  • Dongchun Circus, 1849-31, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, in front of Hyundai gas station, +82 02-452-3112. 01 Jan 2014–11 Nov 2017, 2 times a day on weekday, 3 times a day on holiday. One of the most traditional Circus in South Korea. It started in Mokpo city, 1929 with more than 90 years. ₩25,000 for adults, ₩16,000 for children .
  • Daebudo Haesolgil, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu. Haesolgil is the walking trail of Daebudo. There are 7 courses of trail and each course has different way to walk.

There are many special products you can buy from Daebudo.

  • Daebu grape Daebodo is suitable place for growing grapes. Because of wind from sea, it offers good quality of temperature, and humidity, so grapes from Daebudo has much higher sugar and plenty of juice. people are trying to make good quality of grapes, cooperating with government. There are many street grapes shops along the  thoroughfare when is in season. If you'd like to buy these grapes, just pull over and try it.
  • Daebu seaweed Daebu’s seaweed has very good quality, affected by western sea of Korea. Daebu seaweed is not only full of nutrition but taste and smell.
  • Salt kkaempari floored pottery pieces (called ‘kkaempari’), not general pan on the bottom of salt pond, Daebudo makes the best quality of sun-dried salt. Using pottery makes the salt purer and amplifies other nutritive components. However, because it is made by people and not machines, it is produced in very small batches every time and they do sell out quickly. You can buy salt kkaempari in Dongju Salt Field (Grey number 1). 

  • Daebudo Bangameori Food Culture Street. There are more than 60 restaurants on this street. They specialize in seafood and are famous for sashimi, snails and kalguksu . There are so many restaurants in a row, it is hard to choose just one. Watch out for the touts who stand in front of their restaurants trying to lure you in.
  • Daebudo Bangameori seafood direct outlet. Daebudo has great quality of seafood. You can have fresh raw fishes and roasted clam caught that day. There are many restaurants in the outlet so you can buy some fishes and eat right away at the same time.
  • Kalguksu. Daebudo has good quality of restaurants which have their own food, among them kalguksu (noodle soup) with clams is famous. People also order haemul pa jeon (seafood and green onion pancake) together which is a perfect with a kalguksu. There are many kalguksu restaurants located on the street in a row. You can choose any among them, but be aware there will be many touts trying to get you into their restaurants.

  • American muffin, 920-11, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 32-889-8700. Newly opened, nice place if you'd like to eat muffin and cake as dessert. All baked goods are hand-made. Reasonably priced and tasty. Muffin ₩2,500, Coffee ₩2,500.
  • Hagenna, 1848-111, Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, +82 32-891-3455. This cafe is located in along the seaside. You can enjoy beautiful scenery. Parking lot is available in front of cafe. Americcano ₩5,000, Latte ₩6,000.
  • Ruedecafe, 341, Daeseon-ro, Danwon-gu, +82 32-883-2662. Fancy cafe, pleasantly decorated in European style, serving many kinds of hand-drip coffee of high nice quality. Americano ₩4,000, Latte ₩5,000, Pan Cake ₩10,000.

Most cafes in Daebudo have Wi-Fi access, but it is hard to use internet in restaurants. In the Tourist Office in Daebudo you can access free Wi-Fi. Internet cafes known as PC bang (PC 방) (pr: pee-shee-bang) are ubiquitous in Korea, and usually cost anywhere from ₩800-₩2,000/hr.

  • Nolewa PC, Galmaji-gil, Danwon-gu.

Hwaseong Fortress

  • Incheon big city with an international airport, beautiful islands to visit and the oldest Chinatown in Korea
  • Suwon 30 kilometers south of Seoul, the home of Hwaseong Fortress a UNESCO world heritage site
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