A New Way to Explore Tongyeong: Deeper and More Fun

A New Way to Explore Tongyeong: Deeper and More Fun

The lively fish market filled with fresh, jumping seafood and the many restaurants and sights around Gangguan make it the perfect starting point for a trip to Tongyeong. Now, there is a smarter and more enjoyable way to explore the Gangguan area—and all you need is your smartphone. Follow Tongyeong’s history and stories as you wander through its alleys, collect points, and redeem them for special goods along the way. On the next day, take in the stunning scenery of Saryangdo Island, often called “Jirisan Mountain on the Sea.”

Experience Tongyeong Through Webtoons: A Storytelling Mission Tour

Alleyway journeys are fascinating wherever you go, because they reveal how local people live and offer the real stories of a city that typical tourist spots cannot show. Gangguan in Tongyeong is a well-known destination, but not many travelers wander through its alleys.

 

With the storytelling mission tour developed by the city, you can enjoy an engaging and entertaining alleyway experience. The alleys around Gangguan thrived from the time the sea route to Tongyeong Port opened until the 1970s. The area was once called “Tongyeong’s Myeong-dong,” filled with long-established restaurants and a wide variety of shops.



These alleyways were also frequented by many writers and artists. Several of painter Lee Jung-seob’s works, including his representative piece Bull, were created during his stay here. Other artists who lived or worked in Tongyeong include Kim Chun-su, Kim Sang-ok, Yu Chi-hwan, Yun I-sang, and Park Kyung-ni. Traces of their presence can still be found throughout the alleys today.

Gangguan’s New Attractions: Digital Signage & Smart Photo Studio



The scenery of Gangguan, once best known for images of Joseon-era warships such as the Turtle Ship and Panokseon, has begun to change. A new landmark has appeared—the Digital Signage media platform that utilizes advanced 3D digital technology. Large LED screens installed on its four sides show vivid, immersive visuals, including drone-filmed videos of Tongyeong’s representative tourist attractions and eye-catching media art pieces.

 

The first floor serves as the ticket office for Joseon-era warships, the second floor is a Tourist Information Center equipped with a multilingual translation system, and the third floor will be used as a traveler’s lounge with a photo zone. When night falls, the Digital Signage becomes even more striking. Around the structure, an installation bearing the phrase “TONIGHT, TONGYEONG,” together with wave-shaped sculptures symbolizing Tongyeong, lights up in shifting colors and creates a spectacular nightscape.



Another spot you should not miss in Gangguan is the Smart Photo Studio. The space operates as a shop-in-shop within the café VANADA COFFEE, and a Dongbaegi character sitting at the entrance welcomes visitors. Before stopping by the Smart Photo Studio, try to find as many Dongbaegi sculptures installed around the city as possible.



If you take photos with the sculptures and verify them on the Tongyeong Smart Photo Studio website, you can earn points. These points can then be used to create personalized goods at the Smart Photo Studio, and cute merchandise featuring Dongbaegi—Tongyeong’s mascot—is also available for purchase.

 

Dongbaegi is a character inspired by the camellia, Tongyeong’s city flower, and the seagull, its city bird, with a camellia blossom on its head as a charming signature feature. If you purchase more than KRW 30,000 in goods, you will receive a button mirror as a gift. At the kiosk inside the Tongyeong Smart Photo Studio, you can take AR smart photos, print them to create souvenirs, and browse information on Tongyeong’s tourist attractions.

Where History Meets Art: Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong & Dongpirang



The Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong, the naval headquarters that commanded the three provinces of Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, and Gyeongsang-do, was first established in 1593 during the height of the Imjin War. Its original location was Hansan in Tongyeong, where Admiral Yi Sun-shin served as the first commander.

 

The Tongjeyeong was relocated to its current site in 1603 after the Jeongyu War. Passing through Mangilru, the entrance pavilion of the Tongjeyeong, you soon come upon Jigwamun Gate at the top of a high staircase. Beyond it stands Sebyeonggwan Hall, the central hall of the complex. At Unjudang, the hall where naval strategies were discussed, the Eight Royal Gifts bestowed upon Admiral Yi Sun-shin by the Wanli Emperor of the Ming dynasty are displayed.



A ten-minute walk from the Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong brings you to Dongpirang, Tongyeong’s famous mural village. The name comes from “pirang,” a local dialect word meaning a steep cliff, and “dong,” meaning east—thus, “the eastern cliff.” In the mid-2000s, murals were painted throughout the village when it faced demolition, and as word spread, it transformed into a nationally known tourist attraction.

 

Thanks to its white buildings, walls, and colorful paintings, nearly every corner is a photo spot. At the Dongpirang Observatory, you will find a Dongbaegi sculpture. Take a photo with Dongbaegi and verify it at the Smart Photo Studio to earn points. The panoramic view of Gangguan from the Dongpirang Observatory is stunning.

Saryangdo Island: Breathtaking Scenery with a Thrill

“Jirisan Mountain on the Sea” is a phrase often used to describe Saryangdo Island. The island indeed has a mountain named Jirisan Mountain, and its hiking course is considered one of the most spectacular among Korea’s islands.



At the same time, the trail includes many thrilling sections where hikers must climb steep rock faces using vertical iron stairs and ropes, making it a leg-shaking, adrenaline-filled experience. Online, you can find stories of people who happened to visit Saryangdo Island once and became so captivated that they return to hike it whenever they can.



Among the many sections of the course, the highlight is the suspension bridge. The route from Geumpyeong Port to the bridge takes about an hour one way. The early part of the trail consists of stairs, so the ascent is not difficult. Looking back, you can already see a sweeping view of Geumpyeong Village and the Saryangdaegyo Bridge.

 

As you continue upward, a large rock face appears between the branches beside the trail—its shape resembling a human profile when seen from the side. When you reach the area below Oknyeobong Peak, the first vertical iron stairs set into the rock face come into view. They are shorter than the stairs leading up to Dalmabong Peak, but beginners may still feel an overwhelming sense of height. The summit marker reading 281 meters at the top of Oknyeobong feels especially welcome. After passing another rocky stretch from Oknyeobong to the suspension bridge, you arrive at two suspension bridges connecting three peaks, measuring 22 meters and 39 meters in length, at an elevation of 397.8 meters. From here, you can enjoy a full 360-degree view of Daehang Port, the Saryangdaegyo Bridge, the southern coast, and countless surrounding islands stretching into the distance.

Written and Photographed by: Oh Won-ho (Travel Writer)