THEN, WELCOME TO THE NAMINARA REPUBLIC, an island nation situated 63 km from Seoul. You can take a shuttle bus from Namdemun and Insadong to get here, but more on that later. The island has an area of 460,000 square meter and a circumference of 5 km. It was named after the Late general Nami, a notable figure in Korean history who courageously fought in battles but died at the age of 26. Today, it is a place for rest and relaxation where human beings, animals and trees share peace, love and harmony far away from crowds and civilization.
How to get to Nami Island:
- Take the shuttle bus from either Insadong or Namdemun street. The cost for the shuttle bus varies from 8,000 to 10,000 KRW depending on the time and season.
- Take either the zip-wire or the ferry to get to the island. The Zip-wire costs about 38,000 KRW and is subjected to be discontinued on accounts of rain and snow. The ferry is free of charge but usually very crowded.
What to do in Nami island:
There are plenty of activities that you can do around Nami island. You could rent a bike and tour around the island, or use an electric tour bus or Motorboat for the same. There are some scenic locations and places where the soap opera "winter sonata" was shot that you could visit. Walking around the island, it is common to meet with a museum or performance here and there. There are also certain workshops and handicraft studios that you can visit. The island has a fascinating collection of cuisine menu ranging from pizza and pasta to asian dishes. It is not hard to find Halal food on the island, though it was a bit tricky to find pure vegetarian food. But the most important piece of advice is to bring a friend or two while coming to this place. It will make the experience more fun and enchanting while also dulling the negative effects of the weather and long waiting periods.
