You Can't Set Foot on Baekdo, But You'll Never Forget the View

There's an island you can only reach by taking a boat from Yeosu to Geomundo, and then switching to another boat from there. It's called Baekdo (白島), or 'White Island.' It's said to be a cluster of uninhabited rocky islands made up of two groups, Sangbaekdo and Habaekdo, and it's known as one of the most mysterious sights within Dadohaehaesang National Marine Park. Since no one lives there, it's not exactly a well-known spot day to day, but among people who've cruised past it on a tour boat, word seems to spread: 'If you're going to Geomundo, you have to see Baekdo too.' Pull up a map and you'll see it sits well beyond even Geomundo itself, so it takes a real bit of intention to make it out there. Maybe that's why people who've actually been tend to talk about the trip with a quiet sense of pride. Today, let me walk you through the story behind this mysterious uninhabited island, piece by piece.

A Name Carved in White

The name Baekdo is said to come from the color of the rocks that make up the island. The story goes that the striking rock formations, shaped over long years by wind and waves, are made of a whitish, marble-like stone, and when sunlight hits them, the whole island seems to glow white — hence the name 'White Island,' or Baekdo. Travelers often say that when you get closer by boat, the rocks rise up in all kinds of shapes, some looking like faces, others like animals, depending on the angle you view them from. Some peaks jut up sharp like towers, while others lie low and wide, so the same island can look completely different depending on which way you're facing. It's a bit like standing in front of a sculpture the waves spent centuries carving. There's something fun about realizing a single name holds so much of the island's actual shape inside it.

Close Enough to See, Too Far to Step On

Baekdo sits quite far from the main part of Yeosu, and most people reach it by tour boat via Geomundo, or so it's said. But unlike most islands, Baekdo isn't really a place where boats dock and people walk around. Because it's often hard to land directly depending on the weather and wave conditions, tours are said to frequently run as a slow loop around the island by boat rather than an actual landing. So a trip to Baekdo is less about 'climbing an island' and more about 'gazing at one.' As the boat slowly weaves between the rock formations, passing near then far, near then far again, travelers often say a full loop is over before they know it. Whether the boat even goes out can depend on the weather that day, so it's probably best to head out with a relaxed mindset.

Left Untouched, and All the More Special for It

Since Baekdo is an uninhabited island that people rarely set foot on, its original natural state is said to remain largely intact. It's reportedly designated and protected as a natural monument, which apparently means you can see the island's rocks, vegetation, and the birds passing over it, all without any development or facilities getting in the way. It's a bit ironic — the very fact that people can't easily come and go is what's kept the island looking the way it does. Instead of the paved trails and amenities you'd find at a typical tourist spot, imagine an island where only the waves, the wind, and birdsong remain — that alone makes it feel a little more special. Nature untouched by human hands feels rarer than ever these days, and Baekdo seems to be quietly holding on to exactly that kind of rarity. Maybe it didn't even need anyone trying hard to protect it — the simple fact that people can't easily get there may have ended up being the island's surest safeguard all along.

When people plan a trip to Geomundo, Baekdo often gets treated as a 'nice to have, no big deal if we skip it' kind of stop. But apparently, once travelers actually see it from the deck of a tour boat, plenty come away saying it left a much deeper impression than they expected. Once you've taken in those white rock islands rising out of the waves, you start to understand why people bother making the trip all the way out to this remote stretch of sea. That strange, almost overwhelming feeling an untouched island gives you — a few photos probably can't quite capture all of it. Some travelers come back disappointed they made it all the way to Geomundo without getting to see Baekdo, while others, when the weather cooperates for a full loop, end up talking about it for years. If you're looking to make one day of your Yeosu trip feel a little extra special, this might be a place worth keeping in mind.

🦦 Real Photos, via Sudal