Janghohang Port

A small, curving bay, water so clear and jade-green that you can see the bottom, and white rocky islets rising out of it: this view is why Janghohang Port in Geundeok-myeon, Samcheok, is nicknamed the "Naples of Korea". It is a working national fishing port where squid boats come and go, yet in summer it fills with people paddling transparent canoes and snorkelling, while a cable car glides across the harbour overhead.

The name and the harbour

Jangho-ri was once called Jangul-ri or Jango-ri because the harbour's outline was said to resemble a place called Jango-ri, and the name later settled into its current form. Two deep inlets, an inner and an outer bay, cut into the foot of Dangdusan Hill and drew plenty of fish, which earned the place another nickname, Jangorijin. It was designated a national fishing port on 21 December 1971, and a basic facilities plan in 1973 and an upgrade plan in 1993 gave it the breakwaters that now shelter it from wind and waves. The main catches are squid, flatfish, herring and cod.

The area is also linked to Heonhwaga, a Silla-era song. In the story, Lady Suro, wife of the governor of Gangneung, longed for azaleas growing on a cliff, and an old man leading a cow climbed up, picked them and offered them to her with a song. A park on this theme, Suro Buin Heonhwa Park, is nearby.

What to do

• Sea cable car: opened in September 2017, the Samcheok Sea Cable Car spans 874 m between Jangho and Yonghwa stations. It runs about 25 m above the water so fishing boats can pass below, and its oval glass walls and tempered-glass floor give views of the harbour and islets. Both stations are shaped like dragon heads, and two cabins shuttle back and forth.
• Transparent canoes and snorkelling: in summer, the Jangho fishing village experience centre rents out clear-bottomed canoes and snorkelling gear. The water is clear enough to see the seabed between the rocks from the canoe.
• Islets and boardwalks: on the pine-covered hill beside the harbour, a pavilion and wooden stairways look down on the rocks, breakwater and lighthouse. A small island inside the harbour is reached by an arched footbridge.
• Jangho Beach: a small sandy beach right next to the port, quieter than the big resort beaches.
• Fish and seafood: restaurants at the port and nearby guesthouses serve freshly caught fish.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: the port is about 25 km south of central Samcheok. A 370-space car park was built together with the cable car.
• Cable car: when it opened in 2017, tickets were sold only on site and it closed on the 18th of every month for inspections. Hours and fares change with the season, so check before you go.
• Water activities: canoeing and snorkelling run mainly in the summer peak season. Life jackets are required in the canoes. Ask the experience centre about current prices and hours.
• Time needed: about 1 hour for the harbour and viewpoints; half a day with the cable car and a canoe trip.
• Nearby: Haesindang Park, the Fishing Village Folk Museum and the Samcheok Rail Bike are all close by, making an easy day along Samcheok's southern coast.