Discover the Best of Gwangyang: A Complete Guide to Baedal Island and Mangdeok Port in 2026

Translation result.Baealdo Island Garden, Mangdeok Port, Starlight Campground… Nature, Literature, Food and Hands-on Fun in One Place

[Herald Economy (Gwangyang)=Park Dae-sung] With early summer here, Gwangyang City is pitching the Seomjingang area—where the Seomjingang River meets the South Sea—as a stay-friendly destination where you can soak up nature, literature, hands-on experiences and local flavors.

The Baealdo estuary and Mangdeok Port sit at the river’s meeting point with the sea. Around them, attractions cluster around Baealdo Island Garden, Mangdeok Port and the Baealdo Starlight Campground.

Baealdo Island Garden is a seaside walking route that links Baealdo Waterfront Park and Mangdeok Port via the Byeolhendae (Star-Counting Bridge) and the Sunrise Bridge.

Parts of the Korea Circumference Trail, including the South Coast Trail, and the Seomjingang bike path run through the area, so it regularly draws walkers and cyclists.

Baealdo Waterfront Park—once known as Baealdo Beach—has become popular recently for earthing, the mindful practice of walking barefoot.

You can stroll barefoot along the sand, and the park offers conveniences like shoe lockers and foot-washing stations.

Gwangyang’s zipline attraction, Seomjingang Starlight Sky, lets you glide over the river and Gwangyang Bay with sweeping views. A monorail ride to the launch point also treats visitors to scenes of Baealdo Island Garden and the Hadong area.

Near Mangdeok Port, the Jung Byung-wook House preserves the posthumous papers of poet Yun Dong-ju. The house played a crucial role in bringing Yun’s collection Sky, Wind, Stars and Poems to public attention.

The Starlight Path along Mangdeok Port is a 1.2 km literary-themed trail.

It’s divided into four sections—“The Journey to Find Myself,” “Gently Brushed by the Wind,” “The Star Embraced by Baek-yeong,” and “Bathed in Blue Sky.” Deck railings along the route are engraved with lines from Yun Dong-ju’s poems “Counting the Stars at Night” and “A Poem Written Easily.”

At the trail’s end, the Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden displays engraved stones featuring works from Sky, Wind, Stars and Poems.

Baealdo Starlight Campground, positioned where the Seomjingang meets the sea, is designed for overnight stays.

The campground will total 100 sites; 66 plots—including caravan spots—are already in operation, and the remaining 34 are scheduled to open before year’s end.

Facilities include showers, sinks, restrooms, foot-washing stations and a community center, plus family-friendly features like a busking stage, rope-net play area, children’s zip line and ground fountains.

After dark, the Star-Counting Bridge, Sunrise Bridge and the Baealdo Island Garden light up with nightscape illumination, creating a fresh evening vibe.

A media-art piece about the friendship between Yun Dong-ju and Jung Byung-wook adds to the nighttime attractions. Nearby Mangdeok Port Food Town serves local clam dishes and other seafood, and a short ride to Gwangyang-eup brings you to many restaurants famous for bulgogi.

A city official recommended the Seomjingang area centered on Baealdo and Mangdeok Port as Gwangyang’s signature marine tourism spot—one that blends scenic nature, literature, hands-on experiences and atmospheric night views.