Namhae-eup

Getting here

From Busan

Intercity buses leave Busan Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal, at Sasang Station on Busan Metro Line 2, for Namhae Public Bus Terminal. VisitKorea's June 2019 timetable listed 14 departures a day between 06:20 and 19:20, taking about two and a half hours. Drivers head west along the Namhae Highway, the route Korea.net gives, and cross on to the island by bridge.

From Seoul

Intercity buses run from Seoul Nambu Terminal to Namhae several times a day. VisitKorea's 2019 and 2021 guides and Korea.net's 2015 guide all give the journey as about four and a half hours. These are intercity rather than express buses, so book them on T-money Bus (txbus.t-money.co.kr) or Bustago (bustago.or.kr), the sites VisitKorea gives for intercity tickets.

By rail (KTX)

There is no railway to Namhae. Rail travellers take the KTX to Jinju, move to the Gaeyang stop and change to the bus for Namhae Public Bus Terminal, or take the KTX to Suncheon and continue by bus from Suncheon bus terminal via Jingyo terminal to Namhae. These are the two routes Namhae German Village's own site gives, and both end at the terminal in town.

On your doorstep

• Namhae Traditional Market A permanent market with more than 120 years of history, and a five-day market on dates ending in 2 and 7. It closes on the 1st and 16th of each month, and its main entrance is step-free.
• Namhae Museum of Exile Literature On Namhae-daero in Namhae-eup, a museum given over to exile and the literature of exile, which VisitKorea describes as the first and largest of its kind in Korea.
• Namhae Garlic and Hanwoo Festival The festival of Namhae's signature produce, garlic and premium Korean beef (hanwoo), held around the Museum of Exile Literature with a shuttle bus from the car park. In 2026 it ran from 11 to 14 June.
• Sodo (Soeseom) A small islet in front of Namhae's café and pension area, which Korea.net puts about a five-minute drive from Namhae-eup.
• Eupnae Barae-gil The town route, one of the four branch courses of the Namhae Barae-gil walking network.
• Gwaneumpo and Iraksa The Battle of Noryang was fought off Gwaneumpo in 1598, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin died there; Iraksa marks the spot where his body was first brought ashore. From the Cheommangdae lookout you look out over the battle site, and a memorial stands at Gwaneumpo harbour.
• Namhae Bridge from Chungnyeolsa The 1973 suspension bridge, 660 m long and 52 m high, seen across the Noryang Strait from in front of Chungnyeolsa, the viewpoint VisitKorea picks for it.

One easy day from here

1. Morning Arrive on an intercity bus at Namhae Public Bus Terminal and leave your bags. On a date ending in 2 or 7, head for the five-day market at Namhae Traditional Market.
2. Midday Visit the Namhae Museum of Exile Literature in Namhae-eup.
3. Afternoon Collect a hire car near the terminal, or ride the Namhae–Mijo rural bus about an hour to the Mulgeon Village stop and walk 250 m to German Village.
4. Evening Drive about five minutes out to Sodo and the café and pension area in front of it.

Before you book

• Book in Namhae-eup if you arrive and leave by bus: every intercity route runs to Namhae Public Bus Terminal, and the rural bus to German Village starts there.
• Time your stay for market day. The five-day market runs on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th, and the market closes on the 1st and 16th.
• Book early for festival week. The Garlic and Hanwoo Festival is held in Namhae-eup itself, around the Museum of Exile Literature; in 2026 it ran from 11 to 14 June.
• Hire your car here. Korea.net's guide points to hire-car outlets near the terminal, with online booking too, and suggests starting from the east at the terminal and working west.
• For the Boriam sunrise, move on to Sangju for a night: Boriam and Sangju Silver Sand Beach are both in Sangju-myeon, and the beach is about 22 km south of town.