I took a trip to Mokpo; drove to Jindo Island, explored the Mokpo on foot and by a few cable cars, and drove to the spectacular Wolchulsan Mountain for a day hike.

DAY 2 OF 4-DAY TRIP to Mokpo

After a breakfast on the roof terrace, I went up behind the guesthouse to a rock known as Nojeokbong (노적봉), Yudalsan Park (유달산고원), and the entrance to Yudalsan mountain (유달산). It was a nicely maintained park with not the last Lee Sun-sin statue I’m going to see on this trip! I walked about ten minutes a little way up the paved mountain trail but didn’t commit to the top as I had other plans!

I returned to the park and took a road going around the mountain that went through some historical streets and regular town areas. There are walking routes that guide you through various historical parts of the city, with some paths colour coded! You can follow the coloured lines, use a guide map, or get a guide; I saw one guided tour in progress.

I eventually got to the Bukhangseungjang (북항승강장) Mokpo Marine Cable Car station. I had a snack and waited. This cable car is divided into two sections; the first goes to the top of Yudalsan mountain, where you alight and walk around before getting onto the second leg which takes you across the sea to Gohado island (고하도). At Yudalsan, I walked to some of the lookouts and enjoyed views of the sea, Mokpo Bridge and Mokpo city, then got onto the second car across the sea. Both the mountain and sea sections were pretty amazing, especially on this clear day. There was a tug boat below me doing its thing.

On Gohado, I walked to Cafe Panache(?) (커피파나쉐전망대점) on the ground floor of the Gohado Observatory (고하도 전망대). I ordered a drip coffee that was served in two glass cups. The two different shapes allowed different aromas and tastes to flourish, apparently! Anyway, it was very good coffee and there was a great view from the window seat.

After the coffee, I went up inside the observatory. It’s a unique building built with orange containers. Each floor has a theme connected to the area, some with glass floors that let you see down. At the top looking back to Mokpo, you can see Mokpo Bridge, the mountains of Mokpo and the city, and a wooden decking walkway running along the northern side of Gohado. Cool! Next stop! This was the Gohado Sea Deck.

Off the observatory, you walk down steps to the walkway. From there it goes left and right; I went right and followed it to the end. It was really cool, allowing you to see the rocky coast, sea, bridge, cable cars, and Mokpo, all from one place right above the sea. At the end there were some man-made caves dug by Japanese forces in WWII as patrol boat hideaways. I then walked to the opposite end where Mokpo Bridge is, plus another Lee Sun-sin statue, and a dragon statue. At the bridge end, I walked up some step onto the mountain trail, a ridge that runs the length of Gohado. I got off at the cable car entrance an returned to Yudalsan on the cable car.

I think you could probably do a nice afternoon hike on Gohado as there is more to see along the trail, so I’ll save that for another trip. There was a cable car museum which I stopped at and a woman giving out kisses.

At Yudalsan peak, I walked down to the park near my guesthouse. I walked a different way south past a colonial-era Japanese building and museum, then headed down to what I thought might be a food street; alas no! (or I couldn’t find it)

I decided then to get a bus to the CGV cinema about an hour away east in Hadang-dong. Dune was playing! This part of town was a lot newer looking and like any downtown residential shopping area around Seoul. I got my ticket then went on the hunt for food. I walked long and far as per usual; there was plenty on offer on the main streets, but then found a pedestrian shopping and entertainment area. I found a fancy looking Thai place called Racha and settled on that; noodles and beer! On the way to the cinema, I picked up some food for tomorrow’s hike, then sat in an almost entirely empty cinema! And the film was good.

I got a bus back to the guesthouse, had another beer and watched Netflix. A pretty good day!

Places visited this trip (click the ‘door’ icon to see a list):