Gungpyeong Port

At the edge of the sea in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong, Gungpyeong Port, crammed with fishing boats, is one of the best places for sunsets in the Seoul metropolitan area. Its sunset is one of the "Eight Views of Hwaseong", and beside the harbour you will find a seafood market, a fishing pier over the water and a path through coastal pines. Time your visit for sundown and you can combine the view, a seafood meal and a walk by the sea.

History: a national fishing port born of land reclamation

Gungpyeong is a fairly new port. When the Hwaong land reclamation project began on Namyang Bay in 1991, existing harbours such as Jugok, Jangdeok and Yongdu could no longer function properly, and Gungpyeong was built to replace them. It became a fishing village port in 2004 and on 19 December 2008 was designated a national fishing port under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

What to see

• Breakwater and sunset: the West Sea sunset over the horizon is what Gungpyeong is known for. The golden moment when sky and sea change colour is brief, so arrive a little before sunset.
• Fishing pier: a long wooden pier stretching out over the sea. Plenty of anglers fish here while small boats come and go.
• Seafood market: at the market by the harbour you can choose fresh seafood straight from the tanks and counters. What is on sale changes with the seasons, and it is busy year-round.
• Hwaseong Silk Road walk: a wooden boardwalk along the Hwaseong coast with wide-open sea views, almost like walking on the water.
• Gungpyeong Haesol-gil: a path of about 700 m through the pine woods near the port. Towards Gungpyeong-ri beach, more than 1,000 black pines over 100 years old form a dense grove.
• Food trucks and plaza: towards the car park, food trucks sell fried shrimp, fried squid, fish cakes and hot dogs, and in summer a water playground for children opens on the port plaza.

Gungpyeong on screen

In the drama Our Beloved Summer, Gungpyeong is where the two leads, Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-su, go on their first and their last trip together. Many visitors come looking for the scene of sunset, gentle waves and a wooden deck over the water. The filming spot is about a five-minute walk along the coast road.

Tripto tips

• Access: the port and walking paths are open all year round and free, with plenty of parking.
• Best time: for the sunset, come late in the day in clear weather. In summer, when the water playground opens, the port is busy with families.
• Time needed: allow 2–3 hours for the sunset, a meal at the market and a walk along the boardwalk.
• Check opening hours: individual facilities such as the seafood market change their hours with the season and conditions, so check before you go.
• Accessibility: step-free facilities are relatively good, so getting around with a wheelchair or pushchair is easy.
• Combine with: Jebudo, about 8 km to the north-west, for a day on the Hwaseong coast.