Geoje was already a place close to my heart. My husband is from the Geoje–Tongyeong area, and after visiting several times over the years, I had often thought I could happily live here someday. This time, I returned for a different reason — to share one of my favorite places in Korea with my longtime friends.

After our unforgettable first trip to Yeosu, five longtime friends chose Gijang for our next adventure — a slower journey filled with ocean views, bamboo forests, good food, and long conversations by the sea.

We met in the same middle school classroom more than 45 years ago. After marriage, children, work, and all the busy years in between, five of us finally took our first trip together — to beautiful Yeosu.