Gangguan & Jungang Market

Getting here

From Seoul (bus)

Tongyeong has no railway, so come by bus. Tongyeong City's 2016 English timetable lists the nonstop from Seoul Nambu Terminal at 4 hours 10 minutes, and VisitKorea's Korean site, updated in 2025, gives about four hours by express bus from Seoul. Buses arrive at Tongyeong Bus Terminal in Jukrim, Gwangdo-myeon, out of town. Gangguan is about 5.9 km on by taxi.

From Busan and Gimhae Airport

Intercity buses run from Busan Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal to Tongyeong Bus Terminal. VisitKorea's 2026 Gimhae Airport guide puts the ride at about 80 minutes; Tongyeong City's 2016 English site lists 2 hours 10 minutes for the nonstop. From Gimhae Airport, VisitKorea's advice is to go to Busan Seobu first, about 15 minutes by subway or taxi, and take the Tongyeong bus from there.

From Tongyeong Bus Terminal

The terminal stands at 24 Jukrim 4-ro, Gwangdo-myeon, and has its own tourist information centre. Gangguan is about 5.9 km away by taxi. For DPIRANG, VisitKorea's Korean site gives city buses 521, 613 and 420 from the terminal to the Nammangsan Park entrance stop, then about six minutes on foot.

On your doorstep

• Jungang Market Nearly 400 years old, facing Gangguan Port and next to Dongpirang Village: fresh and dried fish, mother-of-pearl inlaid wares, quilted goods and rice cakes, with a live-fish section and a kkulppang (honey bread) street.
• Dongpirang Village The name joins dong, east, with birang, hill in the Tongyeong dialect. In October 2007 Tongyeong Agenda 21 invited people from across the country to paint murals along its lanes, and VisitKorea says the murals are repainted every two years. Open 24 hours, with views over the sea and Gangguan from the Dongpo-ru lookout at the top.
• Samdo Sugun Tongjeyeong The historic headquarters of the Joseon navy's Tongjeyeong, about a ten-minute walk from Dongpirang according to VisitKorea.
• Sebyeonggwan Hall Established in 1605 by the sixth commander-in-chief, Lee Kyung-jun, and one of the widest buildings of the Joseon period. It stands beside the remains of the Tongjeyeong naval base.
• Seopirang The site of Pak Kyongni's birthplace, with the 99 steps and the Seopo-ru lookout, lit after sunset. VisitKorea's Korean site puts Dongpirang about ten minutes away on foot, and the Munhwa Madang bus stop five minutes.
• DPIRANG A night-time digital theme park in Nammangsan Sculpture Park, east of Gangguan, opened on 16 October 2020: a 1.3 km trail through 15 themes. Open 19:00 to midnight; closed on Mondays, 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok, and the day after public holidays (VisitKorea, 2025).
• Gangguan cultural plaza A turtle ship is on display by the market, and the harbour has a large LED media platform and a Tourist Information Center with a multilingual translation system. VisitKorea notes that Gangguan's alleys were once known as Tongyeong's Myeong-dong.
• Chungnyeolsa Shrine Dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Open all year, 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February.
• Yi Sun-sin Park At the foot of Mangilbong Peak in Jeongnyang-dong, with a statue of the admiral, an observation deck and walking paths. Formerly Hansan Battle Memorial Park, and open 24 hours.
• Tongyeong Ferry Terminal At 234 Tongyeonghaean-ro, Seoho-dong, with its own tourist information centre. VisitKorea's Korean site gives about 30 minutes to Hansando (2018), and about 40 minutes to Bijindo and 1 hour 30 minutes to Somaemuldo (2021).

One easy day from here

1. Morning Breakfast on Chungmu gimbap at one of the harbourside restaurants, then climb Dongpirang's mural lanes, next to Jungang Market, to the Dongpo-ru lookout.
2. Late morning Walk about ten minutes from Dongpirang to Tongjeyeong and Sebyeonggwan, then finish at Jungang Market for kkulppang.
3. Afternoon Sail from Tongyeong Ferry Terminal in Seoho-dong to Hansando, about 30 minutes, for Jeseungdang, once the headquarters of the Three-Province Navy.
4. Evening Watch the harbour lights from the benches on the Gangguan bridge, then walk DPIRANG's 1.3 km trail at Nammangsan, open from 19:00 except on Mondays.

Before you book

• The ferries leave from Seoho-dong, not Gangguan. Tongyeong Ferry Terminal is at 234 Tongyeonghaean-ro and Gangguan's Munhwa Madang at 328 on the same road. For Bijindo, book online: VisitKorea's Korean site says the terminal sells same-day tickets only.
• Plan the transfer from the bus: the terminal is in Jukrim, about 5.9 km from Gangguan by taxi, and an early bus out means the same ride in reverse.
• Book early for 12–16 August. Tongyeong City's English site lists the Hansan Battle Festival for those dates every year, with a battle re-enactment, fireworks at night and street parades.
• Save DPIRANG for a night other than Monday: it opens 19:00 to midnight and closes on Mondays, 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok, and the day after public holidays.
• Driving? VisitKorea's Korean site points Dongpirang visitors to the Jungang Market, Tongje and Taepyeong public car parks.