Let’s get straight into top 5 unique things to do in Tongyeong.
Tongyeong
Tongyeong is the northern part of Korea. Because of all the small islands and beautiful beach in Tongyeong, it is called the greece of Korea.
Also, Tongyeong is a very special place for me. It is where my grandfather lived almost all his life.
After the Korean war, my grandparents settled in there and opened his hospital here.
My mom grew up here for a bit and we have always visited this very special town.
So I had to come here after visiting Suncheon.
Related Blog Post : [Suncheon is the Hidden Gem in Korea that You Cannot Miss] A Day Trip from Seoul
Even though it is small, there are few things that you can do here (And honestly prefer Tongyeong than Busan, because it’s less crowded).
Island Hopping
There are more than 50 islands around Tongyeong.
You can easily choose your favorite and hop on a boat. It was one of the highlights of my trip in Tongyeong.
I went to Bijindo which is two islands connected with a strip of small sand road.
Bijindo was a really cute island and wished I had more time to go to the top. Also, you could stay in the islands for a night.
How to Get to Bijindo (or other adjacent Islands)
Tongyeong ferry terminal is where you have to get the boat from.
There will be a lot of islands, but in my opinion, Bijindo is the best.
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After arriving here, you can just book it in person or online.
If you want more detail on how to get to Bijindo, check out my related blog post.
Dongpilang Village
Dongpilang village has a deep history.
It was a town that was going to be gentrified. So the villagers gathered and did a graffiti on the walls of Dongpilang village.
Eventually the tourists started to pour in, and the government saw an opportunity.
So they have stopped the demolition of the town. It was a victory of the Dongpilang villagers.
It is great place to visit, because you can go to the top and look at the view of Tongyeong.
Addy: 6-18 Dongpirang 1-gil, Dongho-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
Turtle Ship Replicas
One of the famous thing here is the Admiral Lee.
He has fought with the Japanese with only 12 ships while Japanese had almost 330 ships.
Because Admiral was very aware of the many islands with strong current, he was able to win the war.
The Turtle Ship Is a History You Should Know While Visiting Tongyeong
Admiral Lee is also on the Korean currency, and a huge statue in front of Gyungbok Palace.
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He is that famous lol. They even made it into a movie.
So, in Tongyeong they have rebuilt the turtle ship they used during the war, and it is a good education to understand the history here.
Tongyeong Jungang Market
Jungang market is a good place to visit.
It is smaller than other markets like Jagalchi market in Busan, but it has it’s own character.
You can also find many restaurants that will serve you sea to table seafood.
80% of oysters come from Tongyeong, so a lot people in Seoul come here to just bulk order and bring it back home (aka my mom lol.
So when you go , you should def try oyster.
Also, the uni in Tongyeong is famous, so if you do like it, try uni bibimbap.
Related Post: Tongyeong’s traditional dish Chungmu Kimbap’s Top 3 restaurants
It is reasonable unlike Seoul. The uni bibimbap I had in Seoul was like unbelievably expensive. But here is quiete cheap.
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Tongyeong Cable Car
I just had to put Tongyeong cable car because it is just a thing people do.
I would not recommend doing cable car unless it is included in a tour package.
Tongyeong is a small town and easily walkable to all the attractions.
But if you feel a little bit worried, you can go on a tour on Viator or Klook.
I couldn’t find more tours on other travel platforms, but if I do I’ll add on the list.