Bangeojin Port, Ulsan

At the far end of Ulsan's Dong-gu district, past the long line of shipyard cranes, there is still a working fishing harbour where boats land their catch at the auction hall. Even the name smells of the sea: Bangeojin is said to come from the bangeo (yellowtail amberjack) once caught here in large numbers. The classic visit is simple: a plate of raw fish at the seafood centre, then a walk along the breakwater to Seuldo, the little island guarding the harbour mouth.

From yellowtail landing to national fishing port

Bangeojin grew into a sizeable port after Japanese settlers began developing it as a fishing harbour before Korea's liberation in 1945. Administratively it became Bangeojin-myeon in 1931, a town (eup) in 1936, and Bangeo-dong when Ulsan's Dong-gu district was created in 1988. The harbour was picked as a major fishing port in 1967 and designated a national fishing port on 21 December 1971. A large fisheries cooperative auction hall still handles yellowtail, cutlassfish, Spanish mackerel and anchovies, and the Bangeojin Festival has been held here since 2005.

What to see

• Auction hall and seafood centre: Live-fish shops, sashimi restaurants and a fishermen's direct-sales market cluster around the cooperative auction hall. Choose your fish and have it prepared on the spot.
• Seuldo and its lighthouse: The rocky islet at the harbour entrance owes its name to the sound of waves hitting the rocks, said to resemble a geomungo zither (seul, 瑟). Locals also called it Sirudo, as it looks like an upturned rice steamer, and Guryongdo, after a turtle. The unmanned lighthouse on top dates from 1958 and stands 10.8 m tall.
• The pockmarked rocks: Seuldo's rock surface is riddled with small holes bored by shellfish, which earned it the nickname "pockmark island". Take a close look below the lighthouse.
• North breakwater and village museum: As part of a tourism makeover, the north breakwater received murals and painted paving, and a small village museum, the Bangeojin Museum, opened. The lanes of Seongkkeut village on the hill facing Seuldo are painted with murals too.

From Seuldo to Daewangam

Seuldo could once be reached only by boat; since a breakwater was built in 1989 you can walk there. From Seuldo a coastal path runs north and reaches Daewangam Park in about 40 minutes, then continues to Ulgi Lighthouse and Ilsan Beach, so the harbour, the lighthouses and the rocky coast fit easily into one day.

Tripto tips

• Access: The harbour and Seuldo are open at all times and free. There is a car park and public toilets at the port.
• Time needed: Allow 1–2 hours for the harbour, a seafood meal and the walk to Seuldo and back, or half a day if you continue on foot to Daewangam Park.
• Getting there: City buses run from central Ulsan and from Ulsan KTX Station towards Bangeojin in Dong-gu. Several routes serve the area, so the quickest approach is to search for the "Bangeojin" stop in a Korean map app such as Naver Map or Kakao Map.
• Take care: On windy days waves can wash over the breakwater. Stay inside the railings and do not climb down onto the concrete tetrapods.
• Nearby: Daewangam Park and Ilsan Beach are within walking distance, and Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village is 20–30 minutes away by car.