Oido
An Island of Its Own
By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter
Sunshine sparkles like diamonds on tidal land. People search for something in the mud as if they are on a treasure hunt. Life forms of all sizes make their presence known on this endless moist land. Fresh wind full of the salty smell of the ocean promises to drive away your troubles ― at least for a while.
Oido Island, located on the southwestern most corner of Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, in reality is not an island. It used to be an island 4 kilometers away from land, but a dike was constructed to build a salt farm in 1922 during the Japanese colonial period. This allowed ground transportation to and from Oido effectively making it a part of the mainland. After several changes, the island was named after its shape that resembles a crow's ear.
The landscape on Oido Island is very different at different times of day. At high tide, shores are filled with ships selling seafood, and at low tide the island reveals its splendid tidal land.
If you are into archaeology, there is a prehistoric site featuring a shell mound from the New Stone Age that will satiate your curiosity. There is also a lookout that looks like a red light house - the panoramic view of the West Sea at sunset will surely entice you to come back again.
Oido towns also provide a number of fishing village experience programs. Visit https://oido.invil.org or call (031) 319-0205 for more information on Oido Island or if you want to make a reservation for one of its programs.