Places In Korea: Wolmi-do Island

My final installment of my Focus on Incheon series is about the historical Wolmi-do island. Wolmi-do island was made famous due to General MacArthur’s Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War. Wolmi-do is where the first American Marines landed at Green Beach on Wolmi-do to begin the critical operation to liberate the port city of Incheon from the North Korean communist agressors. Today Wolmi-do is not even an island due to land reclamation that has now connected the island to Incheon proper. You can in fact take a bus now to reach the “island”.

Wolmi-do island is viewable from just about anywhere in Incheon due to the large round hill that rises from the island. Radar Hill due to the large naval radar located on the top of the hill is a popular place for locals to hike up and get some fresh air and views of the island and the Incheon harbor below.

Wolmi-do is also popular for the nice upscale boardwalk that is built exactly where the Marines landed that day in 1950. The boardwalk includes many trendy coffee shops and seafood restaurants. Outside on the weekends there is usually a cultural event of some kind taking place, plus fortune tellers and artists who will service you for a price. For the adventurous there is always the amusement park on the island to check out. It has many high flying rides and games to try. If that isn’t enough you can just sit and watch the sunset and the boats going by. You can also catch a boat at the ferry terminal to tour the numerous islands located in the Incheon Bay. They even have special tour packages to view some of the island made famous in Korean dramas and movies such as Silmi-do island. All tours can be arranged through the tour information office located outside the Incheon train station.

No trip to Incheon would be complete without a stop over at Wolmi-do. Hiking up radar hill, eating seafood at one of the restaurants, and watching the sunset from the pier is enough to fill anyone’s afternoon. Definitely worth checking out.