What kind of island is Udo, Jeju?
Udo-myeon, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Udo-myeon
Main administrative address: 153 Udo-ro, Udo-myeon, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Name origin: Udo means “Cow Island,” a name inspired by the island’s shape, which is said to resemble a cow lying down.
A trip to Jeju includes several must-see destinations, and Udo—an island off the island of Jeju—is high on that list.
And Udo itself has a small island attached to it: Udo Biyangdo. So in a way, it is an island within an island within an island.
The name can be confusing because there is another Biyangdo in front of Hyeopjae Beach in Hallim-eup.
That is presumably why this one is called Udo Biyangdo, with “Udo” added to the name.
Many visitors leave Udo after seeing only Geommeolle sea cliffs or Seobinbaeksa Beach.
That is understandable: touring the entire island takes time. But after spending a full day making the circuit, I discovered plenty of hidden gems I had never known about before.
From here on, I’ll take you around the island and introduce Udo’s many corners at a leisurely pace.
How many people live on Udo? Area, population and administration
Area: approximately 6.18 km²
Population (approximate): around 1,600 residents
The number of households fluctuates between 700 and 1,000.
Administrative divisions: Township-level district: Udo-myeon
Legal and administrative villages: Cheonjin-ri, Seogwang-ri, Joil-ri and Obong-ri; 12 natural villages and approximately 20 neighborhood units
Udo covers roughly twice the area of Yeouido, which should give you a sense of its size.
Compared with Marado, Udo is about 20 times larger.
A little too large to tour on foot, but just right by bicycle or scooter
A road follows the coast all the way around Udo, making the island a comfortable distance to circle by bicycle or scooter.
That is also why you will find so many bicycle and scooter rental shops near the port.
I brought my car, though, so I skipped the rentals.
Udo’s rugged terrain and environment
Geology and landscape
The island consists entirely of a hydromagmatic volcano, or tuff cone, combined with a lava plateau.
The area around Udobong, also known as Sommeori Oreum, in the south forms the high ground and the center of the tuff cone.
The north is made up of gently sloping lava plains, where farmland has developed.
Approximately 99 percent of the island’s geology consists of basalt.
Notable landforms and beaches
Sommeori Oreum (Udobong): the main volcanic formation that created the island, located in the southeastern highlands
Geommeolle Beach: a distinctive landscape made up of black volcanic gravel and sand
Seobinbaeksa (Coral Beach): a bright white beach formed from broken coral and red-algal nodules
Climate
Marine climate
Average temperature in January: approximately 5.5°C
Average temperature in August: approximately 25.6°C
Annual precipitation: approximately 1,300 mm
Even without the statistics, it is easy to imagine how rugged the environment must be on a small island exposed to powerful waves and winds in the middle of the open sea.
How do people make a living on Udo?
Livelihoods
Udo is a semi-farming, semi-fishing community, with both agriculture and fishing playing important roles.
The local economy is generally understood to derive approximately 40 percent of its income from agriculture and 60 percent from fishing.
Major agricultural and marine products
Udo peanuts, garlic and other crops; coastal catches including turban shells, obunjagi abalone, seaweed, octopus, hairtail, yellowtail and sea bass
Tourism
The entire island of Udo is designated as a marine provincial park.
Approximately one million tourists visit each year.
Peanut-based foods are widely sold on Udo, presumably because peanuts are one of the island’s specialties.
There is every reason Udo has become a must-see on a Jeju trip
After wandering around Udo for a full day, I found so many beautiful places that one day felt like far too little time.
There are also pensions and other accommodation options, including Airbnb-style rentals, on the island.
It made me want to plan a stay of more than one day and enjoy Udo at a slower pace.
The view of Jeju from Udo offers a completely different perspective.
Many people follow a guide, snap a few hurried photos and start shouting, “Next, let’s go!”
Travel should not be rushed through. Perhaps it is more like reading a book—something to be savored and taken in slowly.
There is a genuine flavor that rises to the surface in that process.
That’s all from Lux.
Related video
The Soul of Korea: Andong Hahoe Village, Sunyujulbulnori, and the Stage of Modern Leaders
