Two Bridges, One Island — Walking the Swaying Bridges of Gau Island, Gangjin
In Gangjin, South Jeolla Province, a small island sits out in the bay, reached by two bridges. It's possible to walk onto this island without ever boarding a boat, purely thanks to those swaying bridges. Stand in the middle of one, and the wooden planking gives slightly underfoot while, through the railings, the mudflats and fish farms of Gangjin Bay spread out below, dotted across the water. This is Gau Island.
At a glance: Gau Island, straddling Doam-myeon and Daegu-myeon in Gangjin County, South Jeolla · Connected to the mainland by two suspension bridges — the Manghodaegyo (716m) on one side and the Jeodudaegyo (438m) on the other · A 2.5km coastal walking trail, the "Hamkke Hae (Sea) Trail," circles the island · The island monorail costs 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for teens and children · From Seoul, it's roughly 4.5 hours by intercity bus to Gangjin, and from the Gangjin bus terminal you'll need to transfer to a local bus or taxi — a rental car is the practical choice.
At just 0.23 square kilometers, Gau Island is tiny, but between its two bridges, a monorail and even a zipline, it fills out a half-day itinerary easily. The bridges, which turned a boat-only island into one reachable on foot, are named after two pillars of Gangjin's identity — Joseon-era scholar Jeong Yak-yong (Dasan) and the region's celadon pottery tradition.
Every step across the swaying bridge deck brings a salty gust of sea air, and the tang of the mudflats below rises sharply. Cross fully onto the island's walking trail and the sound of waves gives way to reeds rustling in the wind alongside your footsteps. From the lookout at the island's peak, the bay opens up in a checkerboard of buoys marking seaweed and abalone farms stretching across Gangjin Bay.
Travelers with a companion who has trouble with stairs or uneven footing can take the monorail across instead of the suspension bridge. Without a rental car, a taxi from the Gangjin bus terminal is the fastest route in, and pairing the visit with nearby Maryang Port rounds out a full day by the sea.