The Expatriate
May 1998
Yongdo
by Adrienne Lewin
 
Connected to central Pusan by exactly two bridges, Yongdo Island offers
a respite from the narrow, crowded streets of downtown and a break from
the relentless concrete of the city.  While Yongdo is primarily
residential, the far end of the island is a green, relatively
undeveloped tourist area known as Taejongdae, which is encircled by a
4.3 kilometre loop-trail for walking or driving. Along the trail are
restaurants, temples, scenic ocean views and even a huge outdoor
swimming pool.  Also in the neighbourhood are an amusement park, a golf
practice range and the usual assortment of stands and stalls selling
everything from seashell people to corn dogs.  On the opposite side of
Yongdo is the popular Mok Jang Won, an eatery famous for kalbi, and
which also offers Brazillian churrascos. Just beyond Mok Jang Won,
nestled into a corner between mountain and sea, sits an outdoor fish
market complete with picnic tables, cooking fires and soju, where local
people enjoy all manner of mysterious, raw seafood along with the
occasional cooked item.  
To get to Yongdo Island, catch a bus across from the old City Hall in
Nampodong/Kwanbokdong area near ESS (on Nampodong map).  For Taejongdae,
take bus #8,13,30,88 or 101 to the end of the line, from where you can
walk into Taejongdae.  For Mok Jang Won catch the # 7, 71 or 508, and
get off at the small park/viewpoint on the ocean side of the road (there
is a sign in Korean carved into a stone monument which reads Mok Jang
Won) ;Mok Jang Won is across the street up a steep driveway.  For the
fish market take the #7 bus about two stops past Mok Jang Won.  You are
there when the road begins to curve to the left, away from the ocean.