Focus On… Mokpo Impulse
Tuesday morning, I reached for my phone and struggled to unlock it. FaceID couldn’t scan my face through the sheets. Apple, please do better. I managed to unlock the phone and found a message in our group chat saying,“Does anyone want to go to Mokpo this weekend?” My heart drops because I had already set up some plans for the weekend. They may have included a red ginseng spa day, but I still have time left to do that another day right? Looking at my remaining weekends, I figured why not impulsively head to Mokpo.
We arrived in Mokpo and were astonished at how the civilization we knew in Seoul had drastically shifted. Mokpo is the fourth most popular tourist city in Korea. It became a running joke that even though Mokpo was claimed to be a “popular” tourism destination we'd never heard mention of anyone venturing out here.
Arriving at the hostel, we looked for our host to check in. Unsurprisingly, she spoke only Korean and thus the endless use of google translate and gestures began. Eventually, we were able to get her phone number and the code to our room. Which we may have messed up a couple times. Let me tell you that while it was a hike from the station to our hostel- the views were worth it.
Hunger set in and like the growing boys we are we went in search of sustenance- yes I called my food sustenance. It appeared as if the restaurants of Mokpo were on break whilst we were on the prowl for nourishment. As luck would have it, there was a traditional Korean restaurant open and I ordered a seafood stew with an assortment of noodles and vegetables.
Regaining our stamina, we went on a hike in search of the highest cable car Korea had to offer. Somehow along our search for the cable car entrance we found a stone foot massager and gave it a go. Ended up being a bit more painful than I thought.
Our hike then proceeded to go downhill literally and figuratively. While we were making progress in descending to the cable car pickup, suddenly the ground beneath me began to give way and then THUD. I was on the ground. Embarrassed, I got up and dusted myself off and pressed forward. I totally blamed the fall on the foot massager I’d used earlier.
Took me about 10 minutes to realize that with my collapse came the loss of my phone. Thankfully the phone was right where I had fallen and all was thankfully not lost.
Mokpo’s cable station offered a clear bottom car. I mean how often do you get to ride a cable car with a crystal clear view of the mountain below. Just before we boarded we were warned twice that the final cable cars stopped at 7:30pm. Gleefully, we boarded and off we went.
City, mountain, ocean and sunset all provided an experience that felt ethereal. This spontaneous trip to Mokpo while impulsive was already showing me that I made the right decision to go, to lean into the moments of the unknown.
Exploring the Island of Gohado became our adventure for the next few hours. We remembered that the last cable car left at 7:30pm but presumed that there would be another way home. We walked the Dragons’ Trail, hiked through dense forest, and managed to step on some unknown creature that was shrouded in the cover of night. It felt like a scene out of scooby doo. My friend believes it could have been a snake but with the adrenaline coursing through my veins I don’t care what it was. We bolted out of there. Turns out the cable car was the fastest way back to the mainland and so we waited for a while until a taxi was able to pick us up and take us back. For a minute there, I thought we might be stranded.
Earlier the next morning, we went to the Mokpo Ferry Station to see what island exploration we could do.
Heuksando ended up being the place we set our sights on. Once on the ferry, we quickly realized we were the only foreigners headed to this island. Call it the universe but we ended up being in a row with another foreigner.Or the ticket operator thought we were all together. Regardless, her company reminded me that traveling by yourself does not always have to be lonely. You just have to be open to meeting others.
Two and a half hours pass on the ferry and we arrive on the island of Heuksando. Here we explored and sailed on another tour to see what the surrounding island structures looked like. The guided tour was extremely informative- at least I think it was. People applauded and seemed intrigued with the knowledge shared with them. I was just ecstatic to take in the sites. Structures unlike anything I’ve seen in my lifetime had my imagination running. How long did it take for them to form? How deep is the water? And are there any sharks nearby? Maybe the last question is just a thought that creeps into my mind anytime I’m near the ocean.
Now “Mokpo Impulse” might sound like the name of some flashy action-thriller but for me it was a weekend about leaning into spontanenity and seeing life for what it can be - filled with endless adventures. I’d totally rate Mokpo the 4th best city for tourism in Korea but #1 when it comes to providing an experience beyond expectations.
