7 Best Sights in Tongyeong, Side Trips from Busan

The waters off of Tongyeong are home to scores of beautiful, sleepy islands, most of which are part of the Hallyeohaesang National Park. The crown jewel, arguably, is Bijindo, which is actually two tree-covered mountains connected by a white sand spit, which in turn makes up one of the most idyllic beaches in the country. Most Koreans come to Bijindo to hike, while others arrive for the fishing and beach action. The island has plenty of basic accommodations available in the form of pensions and mibaks, the bare-bones, sleep-on-the-floor rooms found throughout the beaches and mountains of Korea. There are also some very simple restaurants, though many people choose to bring their own food. Boats leave three times a day (6:50 am, 10:50 am, 2:30 pm) from Tongyeong's Passenger Terminal. The trip takes about 40 minutes.

With terrific views of the town and sea beyond, this hillside village features narrow alleys, vivid murals, and scores of quaint cafes perfect for taking a load off and soaking up the placid surroundings. The walk up to the village is steep, so make sure to wear your comfy shoes.

Originally located in Tongyeong's main Gangguan Harbor, these four replicas of Admiral Yi Sun-shin's famous Geobukseon "Turtle Ships" have been moved to a marina on the edge of town. They're still worth the short taxi ride for anyone interested in Korean history, as these boats were instrumental in destroying the Japanese fleet during the Imjin War of the late 1500s, events made famous by the Korean film Roaring Currents. One of the boats has been transformed into a small, floating museum, and though most of the information placards are in Korean, it's interesting to go onto the ship to get a sense of what it was like for sailors hundreds of years ago.

Covering an area of more than 545.63 square km (210.67 square miles), this marine park has a rugged coastline, sandy beaches, sleepy islands, and lots of open water. The sanctuary is also home to myriad sea life including finless porpoises, otters, and the endangered Northern Pacific right whale. The real stars of the show are its scores of islands, including Saryangdo, Somaemuldo, and Bijindo, all of which are easy day trips via ferry from Tongyeong.

While not just limited to seafood, it's certainly the star of the show at this lively market, where people come from all around to stock up on fresh fish, clams, scallops, octopus, crabs, shrimp, squid, and other more acquired-tastes such as sea cucumber, marine spoon worm, and sea pineapple. Like any traditional Korean market, it's also packed with great restaurants offering up dishes running the gamut from raw fish and oysters to grilled cuttlefish and anchovies. 

Rising like a guardian over Tongyeong, Mireuksan mountain is accessed by the longest cable car in Korea (1,975 meters/1.22 miles). This Swiss-designed gondola not only provides jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains, islands, and ocean, but also affords passengers enough time to meditate on the raw beauty of this particular corner of the country.

Dedicated to the legendary admiral who helped save the nation from a Japanese invasion, this lovely seaside park delivers natural splendor along with a big dose of history. Yi Sun Sin is probably Korea's greatest hero, and the 17.3 meter–high (56.74 feet) statue of the great man gazes out across the water to his base at Hansando Island, where, four centuries years ago, he put his tactical genius to work.