Yeosu to Geomundo, Did You Know There's a Hidden Beach Two Hours by Boat?

Hi, I'm Sudal. Today I want to talk about somewhere a bit far, a place you can only reach by riding a boat for about two hours from mainland Yeosu. It's called Yurim Beach, tucked away on Seodo, the western island of Geomundo. The name might sound unfamiliar, but once you hear the story, I think you'll want to visit at least once. Shall we slowly follow that sea route together?

Geomundo's Seodo, a Small Beach Hiding Quietly

Yurim Beach is said to sit in Deokchon-ri, Samsan-myeon, in Yeosu — in other words, on Seodo, the western island of Geomundo. Geomundo itself is already quite far from the mainland, and since this beach sits on the Seodo side within it, it's known as a beach with a quiet, uncrowded atmosphere. It's small in scale too, with a shoreline said to run about 200 to 300m long and only around 20m wide. On the other hand, the water is shallow, the sand is a fine golden color, and the water temperature is on the warm side, which is said to make it a good spot for swimming. Rather than expecting a large beach, I think this place suits people looking for a quiet, cozy stretch of sea more.

The way this beach sits in the landscape is said to be a bit special too. Yurim Beach is said to have formed within a shape that looks like Borobong Peak on Seodo wrapping around it, and perhaps because of that, both Annoru Island and Batnoru Island are visible from here. A view with mountains standing like a folding screen around it and islands floating out in front — just imagining it puts my mind at ease. I've also heard that facilities like showers and restrooms are well equipped, so there's no inconvenience using the beach. So even though it's a small beach, you don't need to worry that the facilities might be lacking too.

It's such a cozy sea, but the trouble is, the way to get there is anything but short.

Two Hours by Boat from Yeosu, the Sea Route to Geomundo

To reach Geomundo, where Yurim Beach is, you have to take a fast ferry bound for Geomundo from Yeosu, from what I've heard. The trip is said to take about 2 hours, and just the fact that it's an island you have to travel two hours by boat to reach already feels like a journey in itself, doesn't it? On top of that, instead of heading straight there, I've heard you can also stop by nearby islands on the way to Geomundo, so the sea route itself can feel like part of the trip. When I hear stories like this, I start thinking those two hours spent on the boat might actually be the start of the trip, rather than just a way to get somewhere.

After spending two hours to reach the island, it turns out there's far too much to see to just look at the sea and head back.

Sunsets from the Lighthouse, a Camellia Forest Hike, and the Baekdo Cruise

Standing on the cliffs near Geomundo Lighthouse, you're met with a deep blue sea stretching out endlessly, and the sunrise and sunset seen from there are said to be nothing short of magnificent. Watching the sun rise and set across a view that opens all the way to the edge of the sea sounds like a scene you rarely get to see on the mainland. If you enjoy walking, don't miss the camellia forest hiking course that runs from Yurim Beach through Mongneomjae, Borobong, and Sinseonbawi — this course is said to be excellent. Nearby, there's also Suwolsan, standing 127.9m tall, along with rocky-shore fishing spots, so it sounds like a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy both hiking and fishing together.

If you've made it all the way to Geomundo, I'd also recommend taking a cruise from Geomundo Port out to Baekdo. From aboard the cruise, you can take in the scenery of Baekdo, known as an island of sculptures, a heavenly island, and a fantasy island, shaped by nature over hundreds of millions of years. You can also enjoy rocky-shore fishing in various spots around the area. When the season is right, you might even catch a scene where camellias, canola flowers, and haenyeo divers all come together, and moments like that are said to add yet another layer of beauty to Yurim Beach's soft coastline. Hearing all this, I started to feel that this isn't really a place you visit just for the beach — it's more like a destination where you slowly take in the whole island.

🦦 Real Photos, via Sudal