Shinan Purple Island: Wear Purple for Free Entry, Bus Guide

Bottom line: Banwol and Bakji islands in Shinan County, South Jeolla Province — better known as Korea's Purple Island — can be a day trip from Mokpo by public bus, no car needed. Wear anything purple, a piece of clothing, a hat, or a bag, and you get in free.

If you didn't know: without a purple item, adults pay a 5,000-won entry fee. The islands are closed every Wednesday, so showing up that day wastes the whole trip. Based on the most recently confirmed schedule (2024 data), the last bus from Anjwa back to Mokpo leaves at 6:50 p.m.; after that, regular service stops and you have to call Shinan County's Transport Support Division (061-240-8167) directly to check whether a reserved run is still available.

Step off the bus at the Anjwa parking lot and walk into a village where roofs, fences, and even utility poles are painted a soft lavender. A wooden footbridge called the Purple Bridge links Banwol and Bakji islands, so crossing it twice lets you walk both islands in a single visit. The road from Mokpo crosses the Cheonsa Bridge to reach Anjwa, and the bus follows that same route, stopping at Palgeum, Amtae, and Apnae before reaching Mokpo Bus Terminal. On weekdays the bus doubles as a local line for residents, so the gaps between runs can stretch to an hour or more, which is why checking the return time before you start exploring matters. The purple hydrangeas and lavender beds you pass while walking the islands bloom at different times depending on the season, so check Shinan County's tourism website for bloom updates before you go if flowers are the point of the trip.

Journey stage: ④During the trip · Verified 2026-10-17 · Source Shinan County