Yeongjong Island
Discover Yeongjong Island
Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands (영종도, 永宗島, Yeongjong-do and 용유도, 龍游島, Yongyu-do), also spelled Yongjong are in Incheon, South Korea, just west of Seoul. Formerly separate islands, Yeongjong and Yongyu have been joined together by Incheon's international airport, built between them on reclaimed land. Most visitors head straight from the airport to the city, but the beaches and seafood restaurants here are an interesting way to spend a layover or escape Seoul for a day.
What to Experience in Yeongjong Island
Taste of Yeongjong Island...
Seafood is the thing to eat here. You can buy your own at the Yeongjong Pier market and have it cooked up in any of the restaurants nearby. The area around Unseo station has a number of restaurants and bars, and can be a good way to spend an evening. A particular reputation is the Japanese cuisine at Osaka opposite the Hotel Sevilla. The area also has a Lotte Mart for those travelling on a budget and requiring provisions. Airport Town Square has a series of hotels aimed squarely at overnighting travellers. Many offer free pick-up. However, for adventurous travellers it can be worth attempting to find a 'love motel'. They range in quality and price, but almost always have rooms available, and are considerably cheaper than the hotels on Yeongjong island, and will have a good sized bed and be clean. Any subway station on the mainland, easy to reach via the Arex train line, will have motels. The word is the same in Korean, and any local will know of their location. Prices range from ₩40,000-70,000. There is a cluster of near-identical airport hotels near Unseo station. You are likely to end up in one of these if you make use of Korean/Asiana's airline free stopover packages.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFuturistic 37.4625126.4391671MISSING WIKILINK Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항;ICN) is South Korea's largest airport and the country's main international gateway. For travel around the island, buses 223 and 203 connect the airport directly to Yeongjong, and there are limited services to Yeongjong Wharf and the west coast beaches. As distances are short, taxis are also a viable option. Yeongjong Island is served by the AREX line, which connects Incheon Airport to Gimpo Airport and further on to Seoul Station as well. 37.492778126.4936112 Unseo (운서) station is located at Airport Town Square, near the transit hotels. A local bus (Line 301, Kang-in ) trundles from Seoul's Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1) through Gimpo and Incheon Airports to Muuido and Eulwang Beach. At only W5700 this is the cheapest option, but the trip takes one hour and thirty minutes. You can ride this buses at Dangsan station (Line 2), Balsan station (Line 5), Songjeong station (Line 5)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The AREX airport express line runs through the western half of Yeongjong, with Unseo station (6 min, ₩1000 from airport) serving the Airport Town Square district. In addition, the Incheon Airport Maglev shuttles between Terminal 1 and 37.424722126.423753 Yongyu station at the western tip of the island. Reopened October 2025 after an extended closure, it's free to ride but only runs every 35 minutes from 10:00 to 17:00, and is closed entirely on Mondays. Bus 202 runs around the south and west coasts of the island hourly, connecting most points of interest including Yeongjong Pier, Jamjindo and the beaches (₩1200, hourly). From Unseo Station, you can take buses and taxis to Sammok Pier. From Sammok Pier, you can visit the islands of Yeongjongdo, Sindo, Shido, and Jangbong Island by boat, and the islands are popular with anglers and hikers. The boat rides are inexpensive at around 3,000 won, and all arrive in around 30 minutes. The primary attractions for most visitors are the beaches.
Where to Stay
Airport Town Square has a series of hotels aimed squarely at overnighting travellers. Many offer free pick-up. However, for adventurous travellers it can be worth attempting to find a 'love motel'. They range in quality and price, but almost always have rooms available, and are considerably cheaper than the hotels on Yeongjong island, and will have a good sized bed and be clean. Any subway station on the mainland, easy to reach via the Arex train line, will have motels. The word is the same in Korean, and any local will know of their location. Prices range from ₩40,000-70,000. There is a cluster of near-identical airport hotels near Unseo station. You are likely to end up in one of these if you make use of Korean/Asiana's airline free stopover packages.