"Digging for Clams and Riding the Waves"... Oido and Turtle Island in Siheung Rise as Premier Coastal Resorts in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

[Special Feature] How About a "Siheung Sea Trip" This Summer?

From Mudflat Adventures to the World's Largest Artificial Surfing Park

Metropolitan Area's Leading Summer Marine Resort in the Spotlight

Discover the Two Faces of Siheung in One Day: Oido and Turtle Island

"Summer Night Festa" Runs Until September 20

As the peak vacation season begins, a travel destination in the Seoul metropolitan area is gaining attention for offering both mudflat experiences and marine leisure activities without the need to travel far to the East or South Sea. This destination is Oido and Turtle Island in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Visitors can enjoy activities such as clam digging in the mudflats, the world’s largest artificial surfing facility, and a variety of water leisure activities—all in a single day. As a result, it is becoming increasingly popular among family tourists.

Oido Fishing Village Experience and Mudflat Exploration. Provided by Siheung City

Oido is one of the most accessible and familiar seaside locations for residents of the Seoul metropolitan area. It is easily reachable via the Suin-Bundang railway line, earning it the nickname "the sea you can reach by subway." The expansive mudflats, revealed twice daily with the ebb and flow of the tide, are Oido’s greatest attraction. Once a small island, Oido was connected to the mainland in 1922 when a seawall was constructed for salt production, and has since established itself as a flagship tourist destination on the West Sea.

Oido, famous for its red lighthouse, offers completely different scenery depending on the tide. At high tide, the calm West Sea fills the horizon, while at low tide, the vast mudflats are exposed. This natural transformation, which occurs twice a day, is the primary reason Oido has become the premier mudflat tourism destination in the metropolitan area.

The most popular spot for tourists visiting Oido is the Oido Fishing Village Experience and Recreation Center. Open annually from March to November, the mudflat experience allows visitors to walk through the mudflats in boots and directly collect clams and conchs. It is especially popular among families with children, as they can observe crabs and various benthic organisms in the mud.

As you dig through the mudflats with a hoe, your basket quickly fills with clams, making for an enjoyable and rewarding experience. The collected clams can be taken home, further enhancing visitor satisfaction.

The Oido Fishing Village Experience and Recreation Center was rated the only first-class fishing village experience center in Gyeonggi Province by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ fishing village tourism business evaluation. Since 2023, it has ranked first in visitor numbers among 11 fishing village experience centers in Gyeonggi Province for three consecutive years. Last year alone, it welcomed around 29,400 visitors, solidifying its reputation as the leading mudflat experience site in the metropolitan area.

Responding to the increase in tourists, Siheung City opened a second experience center near the Oido Museum this March. Combined with the original center, the maximum daily capacity has increased to about 1,600 visitors, making it even more convenient for group tourists.

The participation fee is 8,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for children. Wearing boots is mandatory, and boots and hoes can be rented for 2,000 won. However, as mudflat experiences are scheduled according to the tides, it is necessary to check the operating hours before visiting.

The second experience center, which opened last March, is very popular among group visitors. Provided by Siheung City

In response to the growing number of visitors, the Oido Fishing Village Experience and Recreation Center has expanded its facilities. In March, following the first center (covering 156.25 hectares in Oido-ro), a second center was opened near the Oido Museum (spanning 332.26 hectares in Oido-ro). As a result, the daily visitor capacity has significantly increased to about 1,600 people, providing a more comfortable experience environment.

However, since the mudflat experience operates only when the tide is out, the schedule varies by date. Operating hours begin as early as 9 a.m. and run until as late as 7 p.m. For precise available times, it is best to check the Oido Fishing Village Experience and Recreation Center’s website prior to visiting.

Turtle Island, located about 10 minutes by car from Oido, is another seaside destination with its own unique appeal. While the mudflats offer an opportunity to commune with nature, Turtle Island is the hub for dynamic marine leisure activities.

Wave Park, the world’s largest artificial surfing facility, is already a well-known spot among surfing enthusiasts. The facility generates up to 2,000 large waves per hour across a 200-meter-long and 80-meter-wide area. Waves are operated at different levels for beginners to advanced surfers, and there is a dedicated children’s pool, making it accessible for everyone from novices to skilled surfers. The children’s pool is especially popular with families.

Scenes from the World Surf League Siheung Korea Open held from the 3rd to the 5th. Provided by Siheung City

Notably, Turtle Island has hosted the World Surf League three times, the world’s largest surfing festival, establishing its status as a leading marine leisure city in Korea. Last year, it successfully held the National Marine Sports Competition, and with the combination of the surf park, marina, and residential accommodations, it has become the metropolitan area’s premier marine resort destination.

Until September 20, the "Summer Night Festa" will be held in the Mio Costa area of Wave Park. The event features DJ performances and water gun fights, and during the peak summer season from July 25 to August 17, it will operate daily.

For those seeking even more dynamic experiences, the water leisure programs operated in Siwaho are ideal. Visitors can enjoy various activities such as single-person kart boats, sunset yachts, disco boats, and paddleboards. The single-person kart boat, which allows users to drive around Siwaho themselves, is especially popular among young people.

The Siheung Marine Leisure Academy offers experiences such as yachting, kayaking, and dinghy yachting courses, as well as boat driving license waiver courses and hands-on training. On weekends, Gyeonggi Province residents can participate in free experience programs.

Another highlight of Turtle Island is the fully open, two-story city tour bus. This bus circulates through the Turtle Island Promotion Center, marina, and Oido Museum, allowing passengers to take in panoramic views of the West Sea. A day pass costs 5,000 won, while a single ride costs 3,000 won. The service operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Siheung City plans to strengthen its competitiveness as the leading marine tourism destination in the metropolitan area by promoting tourism content that connects Oido’s mudflats and Turtle Island’s marine leisure activities. The biggest advantage is that visitors can enjoy a "one-day sea trip" where they dig for clams in nature, surf artificial waves, and try water leisure activities at Siwaho—all in a single day.

Teenagers participating in the Siheung Marine Leisure Academy. Provided by Siheung City

A Siheung City official stated, "By enjoying both the mudflat experiences in Oido and the marine leisure activities on Turtle Island, you can have a special summer trip that combines nature, leisure, and relaxation all in one day."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.