Itinerary · South Korea

Tongyeong in 2 days: cable car and islands

A 2-day Tongyeong route: Sebyeonggwan, Dongpirang and Gangguan on day 1, a ferry to Hansando and the Mireuksan cable car on day 2, plus fares and ferries.

Islands scattered across the sea off Tongyeong in Hallyeohaesang National Park.
Hallyeohaesang National Park, Tongyeong · Photo: by Junho Jung at Flickr from South Korea / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Two days in Tongyeong: town on day 1, island and cable car on day 2

Tongyeong is a south coast port city with the sea and islands of Hallyeohaesang National Park, the Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong naval headquarters with its National Treasure Sebyeonggwan Hall, and Hansando Island, linked to Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

The guide says 2 days covers the town centre (Gangguan, Sebyeonggwan, Dongpirang) and the Mireuksan cable car; add at least one more day for islands such as Hansando, Somaemuldo or Yokjido. This route fits in just one island stop, Jeseungdang on Hansando, on Day 2.

The cable car may open early or run late in May, August and October. Oysters are in season from November to March. Check dates and hours on the city tourism site (utour.go.kr).

Getting to Tongyeong, and from the terminal into town

Korea Tourism Organization says express buses to Tongyeong leave from Seoul Express Bus Terminal, and intercity buses leave from Seoul Nambu Terminal and Dong Seoul Terminal. Express and intercity buses to the same place may use different terminals. Book express buses at kobus.co.kr and intercity buses at txbus.t-money.co.kr or bustago.or.kr, and check journey times and fares there too. Tongyeong City's transport guide lists no rail route.

Tongyeong Bus Terminal has routes to Busan, Gimhae International Airport, Changwon, Jinju, Geoje, Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon International Airport and more. Check timetables with the terminal (1688-0017) or the booking sites. If you fly, a bus links the terminal with Sacheon Airport (also called Jinju Airport), which has routes to Gimpo and Jeju; check times with the terminal.

City buses heading into town from the terminal (Nos. 100, 200, 300, 401, 500, 600) take about 15 minutes to the Buksin Market stop. The fare is KRW 1,650 by transit card or KRW 1,700 cash, and with a card you get one free transfer to a different route number within 30 minutes of getting off. Tap your card when you get off.

Day 1: Sebyeonggwan, Dongpirang, Jungang Market, Gangguan

Spend Day 1 on foot in town. Start at Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong, the headquarters that commanded the navies of Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces for 292 years, from 1604 to 1895. Sebyeonggwan, a National Treasure first built in 1605, is a large wooden hall 9 bays wide and 5 deep.

Sebyeonggwan is open 09:00–18:00 March–October and 09:00–17:00 November–February. Admission is KRW 3,000 for adults, KRW 2,000 for teens and KRW 1,000 for children (free under 6 and 65 and over), and free on the last Wednesday of each month ('Culture Day').

Dongpirang is about a 10-minute walk from Tongjeyeong. It is a hillside village with mural-lined alleys, and from Dongporu at the top you look over Gangguan and Tongyeong Port. People live here, so please keep quiet. Back down, browse Jungang Market, with almost 400 years of history, have chungmu gimbap at Gangguan, and end with night views from Dongporu or the harbour.

The wooden Sebyeonggwan Hall in Tongyeong, with its broad hipped-and-gabled roof and rows of columns.
Sebyeonggwan Hall, Tongyeong · Photo: HappyMidnight / CC BY-SA 3.0

Day 2: Ferry to Jeseungdang on Hansando, then the Mireuksan cable car

In the morning, take a ferry from Tongyeong Port to Jeseungdang on Hansando. Admiral Yi Sun-sin commanded the navy from this island for much of the Imjin War, and the Battle of Hansan was fought here. In 1740 the 107th commander Jo Gyeong rebuilt the hall on the site of Unjudang and named it Jeseungdang. Entry is free. Check ferry times and fares with official info, and since sailings change with the weather, confirm your return boat with the ferry company or terminal before you go.

Back in town, take bus No. 141 to the cable car; it runs between Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal and the cable car stop. A taxi from the terminal takes about 20 minutes and costs around KRW 10,000 when traffic is light.

Mireuksan (461 m) is Tongyeong's highest peak; from the top you can see the islands of the Hallyeosu waterway and, on clear days, Tsushima. The cable car is 1,975 m long with 8-person gondolas and takes about 9 minutes to the upper station. Round trip: adults KRW 17,000, children KRW 13,000, seniors KRW 14,000; one way adults KRW 13,500. It closes on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month (the next day if that is a public holiday), and ticket sales may close 2–3 hours before the end of operation, so don't leave it too late.

More islands: Somaemuldo, Yokjido, Yeonhwado

With an extra day, try another island. Ferries run from Tongyeong Port to Yokjido (via Yeonhwado and Udo) and Somaemuldo (via Bijindo and Daemaemuldo), among others. Plan around the ferry times.

Somaemuldo is a small island southeast of Tongyeong Port; the sea cliffs between Somaemuldo and the lighthouse islet are counted among Tongyeong's three finest views. At low tide a path appears and you can walk between the two islands. Ferries leave Tongyeong Port at 07:00, 11:00 and 14:30 on weekdays (check weekends and holidays with the operator). Part of the lighthouse trail (the section down to Yeolmokgae) has been closed since 3 October 2025 until further notice, so you may not be able to reach the lighthouse islet (city tourism site, checked 5 October 2026).

Yokjido lies about 32 km from Tongyeong Port, with 31 km of coastline and spots for fishing, island loops and swimming. Yeonhwado is about 2 hours from Tongyeong Port by boat and is known for Yongmeori (Dragon Head) Rock around sunset. Check ferry times and fares for these islands with official info.

What to eat in Tongyeong, and the budget

Chungmu gimbap, Tongyeong's signature dish, is rice rolled in laver with no filling, served with radish kimchi made with salted anchovy and spicy seafood side dishes. Restaurants cluster around Gangguan. For a snack, try kkulppang, a bun filled with red bean paste, fried, coated in grain syrup and rolled in sesame seeds.

Farms between Tongyeong and Geoje produce about 80% of Korea's oysters, and most restaurants serve fresh oyster dishes only in season, November to March. Mulmegitang (sea snailfish soup) is served from November to February. Dajji is a drinking custom where seasonal raw fish and seafood arrive course by course; Tongyeong City says a basic table is about KRW 40,000–60,000 per person and the lighter ban-dajji about KRW 20,000–30,000.

Dongpirang, Gangguan and Jeseungdang on Hansando are free. Paid sights include Sebyeonggwan (adults KRW 3,000) and the cable car (adults KRW 17,000 round trip). Check bus and ferry fares with the booking sites and ferry companies; hotel and food costs vary by date, so check booking sites.

Checklist before you go

Island ferries change with the weather, and the cable car can also stop in bad weather. Check both before you set out. Rooms can sell out early at busy times such as the music festival.

Tongyeong tourist information: 055-650-0580; the national tourist helpline is 1330. If anyone in your group is a foreign visitor, check official information on entry rules before you travel.

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FAQ

When is the Tongyeong Cable Car closed?

It closes on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month (the next day if that is a public holiday) and can stop in bad weather. Ticket sales may close 2–3 hours before the end of operation, so go in the morning.

Can I walk to the lighthouse islet on Somaemuldo?

At low tide a path appears and you can walk between the two islands. However, part of the lighthouse trail (the section down to Yeolmokgae) has been closed since 3 October 2025 until further notice, so you may not be able to reach the lighthouse islet (city tourism site, checked 5 October 2026).

Can I get to Tongyeong from Seoul by train?

Tongyeong City's transport guide lists only flights, buses and cars, with no rail route. From Seoul, take an express or intercity bus and check times and fares on the booking sites.

What time are ferries to Hansando?

Ferries run from Tongyeong Port to Jeseungdang. Check ferry times and fares with official info, and since sailings change with the weather, confirm with the ferry company or terminal before you go.

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