Located at the southern tip of the coast of Jeollanam-do, the Goheung Peninsula is a place that feels like both mainland and an island. Dadohae Marine National Park embraces the eastern side of the peninsula, while Deungnyang Bay and Goheung Bay open to the west. Between these waterways, islands such as Narodo, Sorokdo, Geumgeumdo, and Yeonhongdo float, each harboring its own distinct story.
In Goheung, nature and history overlap, ranging from Naro Island, home to Korea's first space launch base, to Sorok Island, steeped in the sad history of leprosy patients, to Duwon-myeon, the home of Joseon Buncheong pottery, and even to Palyeongsan Mountain, where eight peaks form a ridge.
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Palyeongsan Mountain area
The Palyeongsan Mountain area, encompassing Jeomam-myeon and Yeongnam-myeon at the eastern end of Goheung, boasts the most dramatic scenery in the city. From the ridge of the 609m-high Palyeongsan Mountain, the Dadohae Archipelago unfolds at a glance, and the Mirumaru Trail runs beneath the coastal cliffs. The Space Launch Observatory, offering views of the Naro Space Center launch pads, is also located in this area.
Goheung Space Launch Observatory
Goheung Space Launch ObservatoryIt rises on a hill next to Namyeol Haedoji Beach in Yeongnam-myeon, with one basement level and seven floors above ground. It is approximately 17 km in a straight line from the Naro Space Center launch pad over the sea. It is the official viewing point where fireworks can be seen with the naked eye on the day of the launch.
At the VR experience hall on the first floor, you can enjoy 360-degree realistic footage of the International Space Station, while the rotating observation turntable on the seventh floor slowly unfolds a panoramic view of the Dadohae Archipelago before your eyes. The entrance to Mirumaru-gil is connected immediately to the left, making it convenient to continue coastal trekking after visiting the observatory.
Take a local bus heading towards Yeongnam or Namyeol from Goheung Public Bus Terminal and get off at the final stop. Since buses run infrequently, it is essential to check the timetable in advance. If using a rental car or taxi, it takes approximately 30 minutes from Goheung-eup.
Palyeongsan
Palyeongsan(八影山)It is the guardian mountain of Goheung(鎭山)Although it is 609 meters above sea level, the perceived difficulty of the traverse course, which involves walking along a ridge connecting eight peaks, is quite high. Because the view of the archipelago changes direction at every peak, it feels like climbing the same mountain eight times.
Dadohae Marine National Park It belongs to the Palyeongsan area and is also a UNESCO World Geopark application site. The most popular course is the one that goes up from Neunggasa Temple, along Palbong Ridge, and down to the Natural Recreation Forest (about 9 km, 4 to 5 hours).
The spring azaleas, summer lush greenery, autumn foliage, and winter snowscapes are all worth seeing. Safety ropes and iron stairs are installed along the rocky ridge section, making it accessible even to novice hikers, but non-slip hiking boots are essential.
Take a bus towards Jeomam/Gwayeok from Goheung Public Bus Terminal → Get off at Jeomam → Take a taxi to Neunggasa Temple (approx. 10 minutes, 7,000–8,000 won). You can also enter via the Palyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest side; if using a private vehicle, the Neunggasa Temple parking lot (free) is recommended.
Goheung Bay area
The Goheung Bay area, located in the central part of the Goheung Peninsula and encompassing Goheung Bay with Goheung-eup, Duwon-myeon, and Pungyang-myeon, is the center of history and culture. Home to the largest kiln site for Joseon Buncheong ware and where the seawall roads turn into canola flowers in spring, this region reveals a side of Goheung you "didn't know existed.".
Goheung Buncheong Cultural Museum
Goheung Buncheong Cultural MuseumIt is located in Undae-ri, Duwon-myeon. This is the largest Buncheong ware kiln site in Korea. Undaeri Buncheong Kiln Site (Historic Site No. 519)This is the site where it was excavated. In the early Joseon Dynasty, Goheung was a center of the ceramics industry, accounting for more than half of the nationwide production of Buncheong ware.
In the permanent exhibition hall, visitors can compare and appreciate seven types of Buncheong ware—Dumbong, Gwiyal, Cheolhwa, Bakji, Johwa, Inhwa, and Sangam—through actual objects and videos. A Family Literature Museum featuring the lives of *The Taebaek Mountains* author Cho Jung-rae and his family (father Cho Jong-hyeon and wife Kim Cho-hye) is also operated in the same building.
If you also look around the outdoor Buncheong Cultural Park, you will need a good 1 to 2 hours. The admission fee is affordable and the parking lot is spacious, making it an excellent destination for families.
Take a bus towards Duwon from Goheung Public Bus Terminal → Get off at Duwon-myeon and take a taxi (approx. 5 minutes). By car, it is about 20 minutes from Goheung IC. Free parking is available at the museum.
Narodo area
The Naro area is home to the Naro Space Center, a symbol of Korea's space development, but it is a place where the charm of the island itself lingers longer. Ssukseom, a secret garden on the sea, the cypress forest halfway up Bongnaesan Mountain, and the ridge of Maboksan Mountain are located in succession.
Ssukseom (Aedo)
Just a 5-minute boat ride from Narodo Port. Ssukseom, official name love islandAedo is known as the "secret garden on the sea." Over 400 varieties of flowers are planted throughout the island, and it is a garden that has been personally tended over decades by a resident couple who developed the island. It was selected as one of the "Top 100 Tourist Attractions in Korea" for 2021–2022.
The sight of cats roaming every corner of the village is also a famous attraction of Ssukseom. It takes about an hour and a half to walk around the island. In summer, hydrangeas bloom, while in spring, canola flowers and tulips sway like waves. With guesthouses and cafes available, it is possible to visit for a day trip or an overnight stay.
Goheung Public Bus Terminal → Narodo Bus Terminal (Local Bus, approx. 50 minutes) → 10-minute walk to Narodo Port. Board Ssukseom-ho at the pier (7 times a day, schedule subject to change during peak season). It is essential to confirm the time with the captain before departure.
Oenarodo Cypress Forest
Bongraesan(蓬萊山) Established on the hillside Oenarodo Cypress ForestIt is a forest located within the Dadohae Marine National Park. It is densely packed with cedar and cypress trees, so thick that the sky is barely visible even in the middle of the day. Due to its high concentration of phytoncides, many visitors come for therapeutic purposes.
It is about 1.9 km from the parking lot to the entrance of the cypress forest, a 30 to 40-minute walk. Although it may feel a bit far, the path itself is gentle and pleasant, making the walk a healing experience. Various walking routes are marked, including the Samsammok Sammok Trail and the Northern European-style Nordic Walking Course.
Take a bus towards Oenarodo from Narodo Bus Terminal → Get off at the entrance to the Cypress Forest (buses run infrequently). If traveling by car, cross Naro Bridge 2 towards Narodo, turn right, and enter towards Bongnaesan. It is efficient to combine this trip with a visit to Ssukseom on the same day.
Nokdong and Geumgeum areas
At the western end of Goheung, the consecutive construction of Sorokdaegyo and Geumdaegyo bridges has connected previously inaccessible islands into one. From the rich history of Sorokdo and the murals and art museum of Yeonhongdo to the drone show at Nokdong Port, this area is the highlight of a trip to Goheung, offering a complete half-day itinerary in a single route.
Sorokdo Central Park
Sorokdo(小鹿島)It is an island where leprosy patients were forcibly isolated since the Japanese colonial period. Built upon a history of pain Sorokdo Central ParkA cluster of crape myrtle trees, a coastal walking path, and a poetry monument to poet Han Ha-un.(poetry)They are in harmony. Even now that Sorok Bridge has been built, the interior of the island maintains a quiet and solemn atmosphere.
Stone structures built through forced labor during the Japanese colonial era remain throughout the park. As a space imbued with both healing and reflection, it is an ideal place to calm your thoughts by taking a leisurely stroll rather than engaging in superficial activities. A full loop takes approximately one hour.
Goheung Public Bus Terminal → Nokdong Bus Terminal (towards Goheung/Dodeok, approx. 40 minutes) → Walk or take a taxi towards Sorokdaegyo Bridge. Once you cross Sorokdaegyo Bridge, you can walk to the interior of the island. If driving, park at the parking lot at the entrance of Sorokdo and enter on foot.
Yeonhongdo
3 to 5 minutes by boat from Sinyang Pier at the western end of Geumgeumdo. Yeonhongdo(連紅島)The entire small island, with an area of 0.55㎢, is an art museum. Wall murals, the Yeonhong Art Museum converted from a closed school, and junk art sculptures filling every corner of the alleys are harmoniously arranged.
It takes a little over an hour to walk around the island. Yeonhong Art Museum is closed every Monday, but on other days, you can enjoy coffee at the museum cafe while gazing at the sea. The unique atmosphere of a fishing village is also alive, with activities such as fishing, homestays, and freshly caught anchovy sashimi.
Goheung Public Bus Terminal → Nokdong Bus Terminal → Take the bus towards Geumsan → Get off at Sinyang Bus Stop → 5-minute walk to Sinyang Pier. Free parking is available at Sinyang Pier if using a private car. It is efficient to combine this with a trip to Sorokdo and Geumgeumdo on the same day.
Nokdong Sea Garden
Created in the sea near Nokdong Port Nokdong Sea GardenIt is an artificial island park accessed by crossing a bridge about 100 meters long from the mainland. It floats on the sea with a fountain plaza, benches, and sculptures planted on the grass. It is a great place for a walk during the day, but the night view is especially beautiful.
Every Saturday evening, a drone light show illuminates the sky above Nokdong Port. Goheung's space theme and ocean scenery are displayed through drone sculptures, making it a spectacle too good to miss if you coordinate your visit to coincide with a weekend evening.
It is a 10 to 15-minute walk from Nokdong Bus Terminal. If you walk towards Nokdong Port, you will see a sign for Sea Garden. It is conveniently located for a natural stop on the way back from visiting Sorokdo.
Northern region
The Namyang-myeon area, located at the northern neck of the Goheung Peninsula, is home to the widest tidal flats in Goheung. As it is a region not frequently visited by tourists, visitors can enjoy the scenery in tranquility. In particular, the sunset viewed from the Jungsan Sunset Observatory is considered one of the most spectacular sights in Goheung.
Zhongshan Sunset Observatory
Zhongshan Sunset ObservatoryThe access road leading to it is a scenic spot in itself. Towering Metasequoia trees line both sides of the road, and a wide-open observation deck appears at the end. Below, the vast mudflats and Deungnyang Bay spread out, and the red light of the setting sun is reflected directly onto the mudflats.
The parking lot is spacious and free, so it is not a burden to stop by briefly during your trip. It is best to visit within an hour before or after sunset. With the Goheung Bay Seawall and the Ecological Botanical Garden nearby, it is a good place to combine with a half-day drive around Goheung Bay.
As public transportation access is inconvenient, using a private vehicle is recommended. It takes about 40 minutes from Goheung-eup. It is common to visit as part of a half-day drive course that includes the Goheung Bay Seawall and the Ecological Botanical Garden.
