Travel Guide
Evergreen forests beside clear pebble beaches, quiet coastal villages and a powerful history of resistance. Soando is one of Wando’s most distinctive islands, combining beautiful southern-sea scenery with stories that shaped modern Korean history.
An island where
history meets the sea
Soando Island is located south of Wando and is known for both its natural scenery and its strong connection to Korea’s independence movement. The island’s roads, villages and memorial sites preserve the memory of local resistance during the Japanese colonial period.
The island is also remarkably green. Mirari Evergreen Forest and Maengseon-ri Evergreen Forest form dense coastal groves, while pebble beaches and clear water lie just beyond the trees.
For travelers who enjoy walking, Gahaksan offers a higher viewpoint over the surrounding archipelago. Coastal drives connect forests, beaches, villages and historical sites in a route that feels varied without being rushed.
Soando works well as either a day trip or a one-night island stay. A longer visit gives you more time to combine the island’s history with its quieter coastal scenery.
How to Get to
Soando Island
Soando Island is typically reached by passenger ferry from Hwahungpo Port in Wando. Ferries may stop at nearby NoHwado before continuing to Soando. Always check the latest schedule and vehicle-boarding conditions for your travel date.
Travel to Hwahungpo Port
Head to Hwahungpo Passenger Terminal in Wando. Arrive early enough for ticketing, parking and vehicle-boarding procedures.
Board the Ferry to Soando
Take the passenger ferry toward Soando. Depending on the sailing, the ferry may call at another nearby island before arriving at Soan Port.
Start at Soan Port
From Soan Port, continue toward the independence-movement memorial area, then explore the island’s forests, beaches and coastal roads.
Hwahungpo Port → Passenger Ferry → Soan Port → Island Travel
Check your return ferry before exploring
Soando has enough to see that it is easy to lose track of time. If visiting on a day trip, confirm the return sailing first and plan your island route around it.
Best Places to Visit
on Soando
Soando combines historical sites, protected evergreen forests, pebble beaches and mountain scenery in a surprisingly varied island route.
Soando Independence Movement Memorial
This is the best place to understand why Soando is known for its strong tradition of anti-colonial resistance. The memorial preserves the stories of local activists, schools and community movements.
View on Google Maps →Mirari Evergreen Forest
One of Soando’s most beautiful natural areas. The dense evergreen grove stretches beside the coast, creating a shaded forest corridor only steps away from the sea.
View on Google Maps →Mirari Pebble Beach
Mirari Beach lies beside the evergreen forest and is known for its rounded pebbles and clear coastal water. The combination of forest and shoreline makes this one of the island’s most relaxing stops.
View on Google Maps →Maengseon-ri Evergreen Forest
Another protected evergreen grove along the island’s coast. The trees form a natural windbreak and create a peaceful landscape between village life and the sea.
View on Google Maps →Gahaksan Mountain
Gahaksan rises above the island and offers a different perspective from Soando’s coastal scenery. The summit area opens toward the surrounding islands and Dadohae seascape.
View Area on Google Maps →Soando Coastal Drive
Roads around the island connect forests, fishing villages, small beaches and open views of the southern sea. Driving the loop is one of the easiest ways to appreciate Soando’s changing landscapes.
View Area on Google Maps →
Soando
Recommended Course
A first trip should combine Soando’s independence history with Mirari’s forest and beach scenery. Add Gahaksan if you have more time.
A balanced first route is Soan Port → Independence Movement Memorial → Maengseon-ri Evergreen Forest → Mirari Evergreen Forest → Mirari Beach → Soan Port.
Getting Around
Soando
Soando’s main attractions are spread around the island, so a vehicle is the easiest option if you want to see several places in one day.
Vehicle
Driving makes it easier to connect the memorial, evergreen forests, beaches and mountain areas.
If bringing a car, check vehicle boarding and reservation conditions for your ferry in advance.
Walking
Walking works especially well around the memorial, Mirari village, forest and beach.
Wear comfortable shoes, especially if combining forest paths with pebble beaches.
Gahaksan Hiking
Travelers with more time can add a hike on Gahaksan for broader views of the Dadohae.
Avoid fitting a long hike too close to your return ferry time.
Is Soando
Right for You?
Soando is especially rewarding for travelers who want both cultural depth and quiet island scenery.
Soando offers a rare opportunity to connect an island journey with Korea’s independence movement history.
Protected evergreen forests beside the sea create some of the island’s most distinctive scenery.
Forest paths, pebble beaches and village roads make Soando enjoyable at a slower pace.
A drive around the island connects historical sites, forests, beaches and sea views in one varied route.
What to Check Before
Visiting Soando
Check ferry conditions, transport and hiking plans before setting out for Soando.
Confirm the latest Hwahungpo–Soando ferry schedule for your travel date.
Check the return ferry from Soan Port before beginning your route.
If bringing a car, confirm vehicle boarding conditions.
Wear suitable shoes for forest paths and pebble beaches.
Check weather and visibility before hiking Gahaksan.
Leave enough time to return to Soan Port before your ferry departs.
Cross the sea
to an island of history and forest.
Walk beneath coastal evergreens, listen to pebbles move with the waves and discover the story of an island remembered for both resistance and resilience.
Explore more
Korean islands
If Soando is only the beginning of your island journey, continue with more English island guides from SEOMITTA. Compare different coastlines, travel styles and ferry-access islands before choosing your next destination.
An island where
memory lives beside the sea
Soando is beautiful, but its scenery is only part of the story. Flags, memorials and restored historical spaces reveal a community with a remarkable past.
Then the road continues into evergreen forest, along pebble beaches and toward quiet villages facing the southern sea.
A Soando Island trip is especially memorable because history and landscape are never far apart. It is a place to explore slowly, with time for both stories and scenery.