Oryukdo Island

Oryukdo is a small archipelago of rocky islets off the southeastern coast of Busan, South Korea; the name literally means “five or six islands.” It is a locally famous coastal landmark visible from the city shoreline.

The site is known for dramatic sea views, wave-sculpted cliffs and the clear sightlines from coastal promenades and observation points. A prominent glass-floored skywalk built on the mainland allows visitors to look directly down toward the sea and islands, and nearby walking trails provide multiple viewpoints.

Historically the islets have served as maritime reference points for local navigation and feature in regional coastal scenery rather than as inhabited sites. Their rocky nature and variable connection by tide are the source of the place name.

The islands lie immediately offshore of Busan’s southeastern coastline and are reached visually and on foot from coastal parks and walkways in Nam-gu. They are best seen from the coastal road and the skywalk viewpoints.

• Name origin: The name refers to the way the formation can appear as five or six separate islands depending on tide and viewing angle.
• Viewing note: A mainland glass-bottomed skywalk offers the closest public viewpoint and is exposed to wind and spray, so weather can strongly affect the visit.

What to See#

• Oryukdo Skywalk: A glass-floored observation platform built on the coastal promontory provides close views over the island cluster and the sea. The structure projects over the cliffs and is one of the primary visitor viewpoints for the islets.
• Oryukdo islands: The island group itself consists of a series of small, rocky islets and sea stacks immediately offshore; they are largely uninhabited and best appreciated from coastal observation points and walking paths.

From Busan Station or Seomyeon, take Busan Metro Line 2 to Oryukdo Station. From Oryukdo Station exit 1, it’s roughly a 10-15 minute walk southeast to Oryukdo Park and the trailheads leading to the skywalk.

• Arrive at sunrise for the light on the granite cliffs and to avoid the mid-day crowd at the skywalk.
• Start at Oryukdo Park (Oryukdo Pavilion) and follow the coastal trail clockwise - the path keeps the best views to the left.
• Bring a windproof layer: the exposed promontories catch a raw sea wind even on warm days.