KR · South Gyeongsang Province · 34.83°N 128.42°E

tongyeong

The 'Naples of Korea': island views, a mural village and oysters by the bucket.

Best time
Spring and autumn for walking and island trips. Oyster season runs through the colder months, roughly November to February.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Busan (about 6 hours). Buses from Busan take about 1.5 to 2 hours, crossing to Geoje by bridge and tunnel on the way. From Seoul it's about 4 hours by bus.
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KR · South Gyeongsang Provincetongyeong34.83°N 128.42°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,The 'Naples of Korea': island views, a mural village and oysters by the bucket.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTongyeongKR, South Gyeongsang Province
KLtongyeong
≈ 4,475 km from KL, as the crow flies
Jeseugndang is a shrine built to commemorate Admiral Yi Sun-sin on Hansan Island (Hansando), North Gyeongsang province, South Korea where Admiral Yi squashed the Japanese invasive military with the tu

Photo: Asfreeas at Korean Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A harbour town on Korea's south coast, set among dozens of small islands. It was Admiral Yi Sun-sin's base in the 16th-century wars against Japan, and its name means 'command post'. Today it's known for seafood, especially oysters, and for easy island hops.

Makan

  1. Chungmu gimbapPlain rice rolls served with spicy squid and radish kimchi on the side, named after the town's old name.Map ↗
  2. OystersTongyeong farms a big share of Korea's oysters. Have them raw, grilled or in soup in winter.Map ↗
  3. KkulppangFried bread filled with sweet red bean and glazed with syrup, a Tongyeong classic.Map ↗
  4. Raw fish at Jungang MarketPick fresh fish at the market by the harbour and have it sliced as hoe.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Dongpirang Mural VillageA hillside of painted houses above the harbour, with views over the boats.Map ↗
  2. Mireuksan cable carA long cable car ride up to views over the islands of the Hallyeo waterway.Map ↗
  3. Skyline LugeRide a little cart down a winding track. Fun for all ages.Map ↗
  4. HansandoA short ferry ride to Admiral Yi's old base, with a shrine and quiet walks.Map ↗
  5. SomaemuldoA ferry trip out to a rocky island with a lighthouse islet you can walk to at low tide.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Island ferries are cancelled in rough weather, so check on the day and keep plans flexible.
  • The cable car and luge get long queues on weekends. Go early.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.