Marine park · South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang
Hallyeohaesang
한려해상국립공원
Korea's first marine park, along the south coast from Tongyeong to Yeosu.
Designated in 1968, this was the first marine national park in the country. It runs along the southern coast and takes in Tongyeong, Geoje, Namhae and the waters between them.
The cable car above Tongyeong and the boat out to Oedo are the easy introductions; the coastline itself is the reason to stay longer.
Photograph by Steve46814, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for this page.
Getting there from Seoul
Door-to-door estimates for a normal day; they stretch on a holiday weekend. Check the timetable before you rely on a last bus back.
Bus
Express coach from Seoul Nambu to Tongyeong, about 4h, which is the usual base. Coaches also run to Geoje and Namhae.
Train
KTX to Jinju (about 3h 30m), then a bus on to Tongyeong in around 40 minutes.
Car
Roughly four and a half hours. Useful here, because the park is strung along a coastline and the good bits are far apart.
Wildlife & plants
Animals
Otters along the sheltered inlets, and seabirds throughout. The warm current brings subtropical fish into these waters, which is why the diving around Hongdo and Yeonhwado is the best on the south coast.
Trees & flowers
Camellia forest on the islands, flowering from late winter — Oedo and Jangsado are both effectively gardens built on it. Coastal pine on the exposed headlands.
Korea’s wildlife is shy and mostly nocturnal — you’re far more likely to see tracks than animals. Wild boar are the one to know about: keep your distance, don’t run, and never get between a sow and her young.
More parks
Jirisan
Korea's first national park, and the highest ground on the mainland.
Juwangsan
Rock gorges, waterfalls and the reflecting pond at Jusanji.
Mudeungsan
Gwangju's mountain, with columns of volcanic rock along the ridge.