Tongyeong - romantic port city with history

Ozlem Gokcekaya from Turkey, left, and Rina Shibahara from Japan follow a trail on Jangsa Island.

By Lee Kyung-min

Tongyeong, a small port city in South Gyeongsang Province, is famous not only for fresh seafood, but also its harmonious island and mountain vistas that attract thousands of tourists throughout the year just to enjoy the calm and quiet.

Often dubbed the Naples of the East, the small port city deserves recognition for the coexistence of its unique history and romantic ambience.

But it is not easy for foreign residents or visitors in Seoul to reach the remote city on their own. To help them, the Visit Korea Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have started operating the K-Travel Bus, a chartered bus service connecting Seoul and Tongyeong with a one-night, two-day program, which includes the must-sees and must-dos of the port city.

Hallyeosudo Viewing Ropeway (waterway observation cable car)

Visitors ride the Hallyeosudo Viewing Ropeway to the peak of Mount Mireuk at Hallyeo Waterway.

About six hours after departing from Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, the bus arrived at Hallyeosudo, or Hallyeo Waterway, a waterway in the South Sea with many islands.

Visitors can view the scenery of the waterway from the cable cars of the Hallyeosudo Viewing Ropeway. The longest ropeway in Korea carries people from the foot to the top of Mount Mireuk, one of the 100 celebrated mountains in Korea designated by the Korea Forest Service. Forty-eight cable cars each with a capacity of eight people operate on the 1,975-meter route.

At the mountain’s peak awaits a vista of islands in the waterway, as well as old temples including Yonghwa Temple and Mirae Temple.

The mountain is on Mireuk Island, which is connected to the mainland through Asia’s first undersea tunnel. The pedestrian tunnel is now Modern Cultural Heritage registered by the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Tongjeyeong Naval Station

Tongyeong, often touted as the hub of Hallyeosudo, preserves historical traces of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) whose victories against the Japanese Navy during the Imjin War (1592-1598) cemented him as a national hero.

Tributes to Yi are everywhere in the city, including several battle memorials and shrines dedicated to the naval genius.

Tongjeyeong, a naval station, is one such cultural site. It was the largest military camp in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), serving as the central command station for the other three naval bases in the Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Chungcheong regions for nearly three centuries from its establishment in 1604 until its abolishment in 1895.

Sebyeonggwan, the main building of the station, is the second largest wooden building of the Joseon period that has been well-preserved and still stands today following Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Seoul’s Gyeongbok Palace. ThisThe majestic one-story house with nine rooms in front and five rooms on the sides is where Yi commanded his officers.

Turtle Ship at Gangguan Port and fish market

Gangguan is a lively port where the restored Turtle Ship is located. The ship, developed by Yi, was used to repel the Japanese invaders during the Imjin War.

Most of the city’s major cultural landmarks are within walking distance from Gangguan Port. One of them is the Joongang Conventional Fish Market, a traditional market where rows of seafood restaurants and local eateries with affordable prices can be found. Sashimi can be made in a minute.

Dongpirang Mural Village

Masuka Minami from Japan takes a selfie in Dongpirang Mural Village.

Within a 15-minute walk from the market, one can reach Dongpirang Mural Village, a small hillside town overlooking Gangguan Port.

The village of underprivileged residents was on the verge of demolition due to a redevelopment project in the early 2000s, but was salvaged following the efforts of local artists who painted murals on the old walls.

The demolition plan was canceled soon after, with the place gaining recognition as an art town and a must-visit site of the port city.

Jangsa Island

A group of tourists stand in front of the K-Travel Bus before boarding the ferry for Jangsa Island.

Jangsa Island is about 30 minutes away from Tongyeong Harbor via boat.

The island, which is designated as a marine park, features 20 thematic gardens, an outdoor gallery and an observatory. It became a hot tourist attraction after the filming of the TV drama My Love from the Star starring Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.

The park is most famous for its camellia trees which are abundant throughout the islnad. The Camellia Tunnel is a great photo spot in March when the flowers are in full bloom.

Somaemul Island and Deungdae Island are about 30 minutes away from Jangsa Island. Travelers may not want to miss the island’s rocks and column joints with strange yet fantastic features.

Omisa Kkulppang

Honey bread is the most popular Tongyeong delicacy. The chewy, syrup-coated, round tennis ball-sized bread comes in three different kinds according to stuffing: red bean, pumpkin and sweet potato. After the original red bean stuffed bread became popular, two other alternatives came along.

It is available at Omisa Kkulppang. Omisa used to be the name of a local dry cleaner next door, but the bakery took over the name after becoming famous, and the laundry disappeared. Kkulppang is Korean for honey bread.

K-Travel Bus

The foreigners who visited Tongyeong on the K-Travel Bus were satisfied with their visit to the port city.

Leonardo Saturnino Ferreira, 26, from Brazil, said the service is ideal for foreigners seeking tourist attractions outside the capital city of Seoul or the second-largest city of Busan.

“Korea has many beautiful places other than Seoul and Busan,” he said. “I like Korea, and I wish many travelers from all around the world could visit places far away from the busy capital, like Tongyeong, and enjoy the scenic view, meet local people and have a memorable experience.”

He said the program would be popular especially because a guide accompanies them throughout the tour. When a group of four or more on the tour speak the same language, a guide speaking that language is dispatched.

“My Korean is good, so I don’t have any problems taking trips all by myself,” he said, “but it is not easy for foreigners who are not fluent in Korean to travel to places without knowing what to expect, including where they are going, what food they are going to eat, or where they should stay. I think this program will help them greatly.”

The government-organized program is far more reliable, unlike private companies’ package tours which often “rip off” travelers, he added.

Ozlem Gokcekaya, 26, from Turkey, said she loved everything about the tour. Saying she likes to visit regions here that are not well known to foreigners, she added, “I would definitely recommend the K-Travel Bus program to my friends.”

Besides Tongyeong, K-Travel Bus service connects Seoul to five provincial attractions: Gangwon, South Jeolla and North Gyeongsang provinces, Daegu and the southeastern area of the nation (Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province).

The $170 program covers breakfast, transportation, local guides, accommodations and admission charges. Lunch and dinner are excluded but travelers will be provided with a list of recommended restaurants in the regions so they can make their own choices. The service runs once a week. At least four participants are required for the bus to run.