Suncheon travel info

Suncheon sits in the east of South Jeolla Province, between Yeosu and Gwangyang. Drive fifteen or twenty minutes south from the middle of town and the road simply stops where the reed beds begin. Suncheon Bay is a wetland of mudflats and reeds spreading out toward the sea, and in 2021 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the Getbol, the Korean Tidal Flats. Just above it lies Suncheonman National Garden, with paths between lakes and flower beds, and an unmanned rail pod called the Skycube links the garden to the wetland.

From late October into early November the reeds turn from silver to gold, and in winter hooded cranes settle on the flats. Back in town it is quiet. A bowl of gukbap in the alleys of Utjang market, duck bulgogi under Jukdobong hill, then a cockle set meal or a full hanjeongsik table in the evening is how a day tends to go. Heading inland, Seonamsa and Songgwangsa temples and the walled village of Naganeupseong each take half a day.

From Seoul it is a bit under two and a half hours on the KTX from Yongsan. The station and bus terminal are in town, and Suncheon Bay is about twenty minutes away by bus, so staying in town and commuting out to the bay works well.

From Seoul by train (Suncheon Station) (KTX)

By bus (Suncheon Bus Terminal) (BUS)

To Suncheon Bay (city bus, taxi) (BUS)