Ulleungdo Island

Domenico Convertini from Zurich, Schweiz · CC BY-SA 2.0

A volcanic island nearly three hundred kilometres offshore, ringed by cliffs with almost no flat ground.

Ulleungdo sits in the East Sea nearly three hundred kilometres from the mainland — the fast ferry takes two and a half hours and cancels often for swell. The island is a volcano rising out of deep water, so there is barely a level place on it: the ring road is cut straight into the cliffs through a run of short tunnels, and houses cling to steep gullies. The one real piece of flat ground is the Nari basin in the middle, where wild greens are grown and houses are roofed with bark shingles. It is one of the rare Korean islands tourism has not flattened — partly because getting there is so hard.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Ulleungdo Island?

May–June and September–October

How much does it cost to visit Ulleungdo Island?

Ferry around 160,000–180,000 KRW return (80,000–90,000 each way), depending on port and operator

How long do you need at Ulleungdo Island?

2–3 days

What are the opening hours of Ulleungdo Island?

By ferry schedule, usually 1–3 sailings a day

Did you know

About 290km from the mainland; the fast ferry takes 2.5–3 hours.
A volcanic island whose highest point, Seonginbong, reaches 984m.
The Nari basin is the only substantial area of flat ground on the island.
Local specialities include wild mountain greens, squid and free-ranging Ulleung beef.

Travel tips

Ferries cancel frequently for swell — leave at least a spare day in your plan.
If you get seasick, take something before boarding; the crossing is rough.
Boats run on to Dokdo from here, but only land when the sea is calm.

Source: https://www.klook.com/activity/62090-ulleung-ferry-ulleung-cruise-departs-from-pohang/

Updated: 2026-08-04