Tongyeong
Harbour City Of Admiral Yi Sun Sin'S Samdo Sugun Naval Headquarters; Gateway To The Islands Of Hallyeohaesang National Park · Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang
Tongyeong is a harbour city on the south coast of South Gyeongsang, spread over a peninsula and a scatter of islands in Hallyeohaesang National Park, and often called the Naples of Korea. Its name comes from Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong, the naval headquarters of the three southern provinces set up here after the Imjin War, and the city was called Chungmu, after Admiral Yi Sun-sin, until 1995. Around the small Gangguan harbour you find replica turtle ships, the Jungang market of live fish, oysters and chungmu gimbap, and the painted alleys of Dongpirang village on the hill above. Sebyeonggwan, the great hall of the old headquarters, is a National Treasure. On the edge of town a long cable car climbs Mireuksan for a view over the islands, and a luge track runs down the slope beside it. From the ferry terminal boats go to Hansando, where Admiral Yi won the Battle of Hansan in 1592, and out to Bijindo, Yokjido and Somaemuldo with its lighthouse islet. Tongyeong is about four hours by bus from Seoul and under two from Busan.
Gangguan Harbour, Jungang-dong, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang, 53079, South Korea
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the harbour, market streets and Dongpirang lanes are open all day, with market stalls busiest from early morning to early evening. The cable car runs daily from about 9 or 9.30 am to around 5 to 7 pm depending on season, with last boarding up to an hour before closing, and it closes in strong wind and for a maintenance period each year. The luge keeps similar daytime hours with evening sessions in summer. Sebyeonggwan and the turtle ships open about 9 am to 6 pm, some closing a regular day. Ferries run to fixed timetables with the last boats back in mid or late afternoon. The traps that ruin a day are the cable car queue and wind closures, missing the low tide at Somaemuldo, missing the last boat back, and arriving at the bus terminal without a plan to reach the harbour. Confirm current times before relying on them.