Ganjeolgot & Jinha

Getting here

From central Ulsan

Drive. VisitKorea's Ganjeolgot Lighthouse page puts the lighthouse 20 minutes from the entrance to the Ulsan Nambu Beltway, and VisitKorea's 2024 Ulsan guide says public transport to the area is limited and that it is a good idea to take a car. Taehwagang Station, in the centre, is where trains from Busan and Gyeongju arrive.

From Busan

The Donghae Line metro runs from Bujeon through Seosaeng Station, which Busan City marks as the first station in Ulsan, on its way to Taehwagang. For Ganjeolgot itself, follow VisitKorea's advice and drive: it says public transport to the area is limited. Busan City's 2022 figure for the full metro run from Bujeon to Taehwagang is 76 minutes.

From Seoul

Take the KTX from Seoul Station or the SRT from Suseo to KTX Ulsan Station, or the Jungang Line KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni, which has run via Ulsan since 20 December 2024, and drive on from there. Ulsan City's 2021 timetable has the first KTX leaving Seoul at 5:15 and arriving at 7:29.

From Gimhae Airport

VisitKorea's 2026 Gimhae Airport guide says you can buy tickets at the airport for intercity buses to Ulsan. From Ulsan, drive or take a taxi to the coast. Driving all the way from the airport is the simplest version of this trip, since VisitKorea recommends a car for Ganjeolgot.

On your doorstep

• Ganjeolgot Lighthouse Open 24 hours, says VisitKorea, which puts sunrise here a minute earlier than at Cape Homigot in Yeongilman Bay and five minutes earlier than at Jeongdongjin. Ulsan City notes the cape has been a filming location for TV dramas.
• Hope Post Box A 5 m post box on the cape. Postcards are provided inside, and what you write is delivered as regular mail, says VisitKorea.
• Ganjeolgot Cape Monument One of the cape's must-see points, in VisitKorea's words, alongside the lighthouse.
• Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival VisitKorea says it starts at sunset on 31 December, with performances throughout the night; Ulsan City lists it every 31 December to 1 January, and the Ulju-gun Office hosted the 2024–25 edition.
• Jinha Beach Clear blue water beside a sandy beach, with a pine grove behind and Myeongseondo Islet offshore. Ulsan City lists windsurfing and other water sports, festivals and performances in summer.
• Ganjeolgot Somang-gil A 10 km coastal trail from the entrance of Jinha's Myeongseongyo Bridge to Sinam Port, in five themed courses, says VisitKorea.
• Seosaengpo Japanese Fortress A Japanese-style terraced stone fortress from the Imjin War, built under General Kato Kiyomasa in 1592–1593, according to VisitKorea, at Seosaeng-ri in Seosaeng-myeon.

One easy day from here

1. Dawn Sunrise at Ganjeolgot, then the Hope Post Box, the monument and the lighthouse.
2. Morning Walk part of the Ganjeolgot Somang-gil from Jinha's Myeongseongyo Bridge.
3. Midday Jinha Beach and the view out to Myeongseondo Islet; in summer, a windsurfing session.
4. Afternoon Drive to the Seosaengpo Japanese Fortress, a terraced stone fortress from the Imjin War.

Before you book

• New Year's Eve brings the Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival, which VisitKorea says starts at sunset on 31 December, with performances throughout the night. Book well ahead for that night.
• Come with a car or plan on taxis. VisitKorea says public transport to Ganjeolgot is limited and advises driving.
• Sleep here for the sunrise. VisitKorea lists the cape as open 24 hours, so a night on this coast puts you close for dawn.
• Summer is beach season at Jinha, with water sports, festivals and performances; book early for July and August.
• Sunrise outside New Year? Dong-gu writes that sunrise at Daewangam Rock is said to be earlier than at Ganjeolgot except in early January and late December.