The country’s many tourist destinations include Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, Busan, Jeonju, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Jeju Island and many others.

Are you looking for an adventure and unique experiencein South Korea? Namhae Island, the fifth-largest island in South Korea and located in South Gyeongsang province, boats stunning ocean views, beautiful landscapes and lush forests. It is South Korea’s best kept secret.

Namhae is part of the beautiful Korean Archipelago, a group of about 3,500 islands in the South Sea of Korea.  Besides Namhae, there are other large islands like Jindo and Geojedo.

The Korean Archipelago is a unique attraction in South Korea. Many of its beautiful islands, beaches, mountains, forests, local traditions and food will provide a unique experience forboth domestic and international visitors.

Begin your trip at Daraengi village, which is famous for terraced rice paddies on a steep hill on the outskirts of the 488-meter-high Seolheulsan Mountain. The picturesque rice paddies consist of 108 steps (made up of stones and soil) and are a great spot for taking photographs. For a scenic adventure, take a walk along the forests.

The island has Hallyeohaesang National Park, which has an outstanding natural environment with splendid landscapes, in addition to Jukbangryeom, a time-honored fishing practice, in Jijok Strait.

This fishing method exists only on Namhae Island. The name refers to the bamboo poles used to set a trap in an open-fan shape. This V-shaped installation in the sea can be seen from Changseongyo Bridge. The trap is usually used to catch anchovies but can also be used for hairtail, mackerel pike, pomfret and shrimp.

Not to be missed is Mulgeon Windbreak Forest, a designated natural monument that serves to both block the sea breeze and lure fish.

Then, move on to Gacheon Daraengi village, which is set against Seolheulsan Mountain and faces a steep coastal cliff.  Like Daraengi, this village is famous for its terraced paddy fields, which are unique in South Korea.

From this village, the road divides into two:a coastal path and Gacheon Jiget-gil Trail, a walking path leading to the terraced fields. If we  go down to the coast, we will be walking on a suspension bridge connected to the bedrock; the view of the waves crashing down below the cliffs is splendid.

Gacheon Daraengi Village can be reached by taxi from Namhae Intercity bus terminal. It is a 35-minute drive.

If you want to see a temple among the clouds, then go to Geumsan Boriam Hermitage, which is located just below the summit of  Geumsan Mountain. According to a local legend, visitors will be granted a wish at this temple.

Another unique feature of this temple is a statue of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, one of three major Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statues in South Korea.

From the temple, enjoy scenic views of Hallyeohaesang National Park.

From the top of the Geumsan Mountain, we can see the beautiful Sangju Silver Sand Beach below, which blends well with the surrounding mountains and cliffs.

The sea of  Namhae is well known for water sports as it has clean and clear waters and a quality mud flat. There is a beautiful sandy beach called Sangju Silver Sand Beach, which is surrounded by a 2-kilometer-long pine tree grove.

“With Mokseom Island in front of the fan-shaped beach and the mountains on either side, the beach forms gentle waves and shallow waters, making it ideal for swimming and water activities,” said travel website english.visitkorea.or.kr describing the beauty of  Sangju Silver Sand Beach.

Near the beach, there is a sports village called Dumo. Here we can play many leisure sports like sea rafting and kayaking, as well as fishing and mudflat activities like collecting littleneck clams. The village blossoms with canola flowers in the spring and buckwheat in the fall, providing splendid scenery all year round.

If you want to see where a forest meets the sea,then go to the beautiful Mulgeon Windbreak Forest, which is a 35-minute drive by taxi from Namhae Intercity bus terminal.

The trees of the forest were planted about 300 years ago to protect the village against vigorous sea winds, as well as attract fish with the vivid green colors of the leaves.

Namhae has a unique village. It is none other than German village.It looks like a mini Germany in South Korea.Many Koreans who returned from Germany settled down in this village, which is home to beautiful residential buildings with white exteriors and orange roofs. Visitors can experience the German culture and taste German food and beverages.

Namhae and the Korean Archipelago will surely provide you unforgettable  memories in South Korea.

For more information about Namhae, visit Visitkorea.or.id (Instagram: @ktoid)

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