Lighthouses of South Korea: Sokcho Area (Northern Gangwon)

For most of its history, Korea was an independent kingdom, or at least an autonomous kingdom under Chinese influence. This came to an end in 1910, when Japan annexed all of Korea. At the end of World War II in 1945, the 38° parallel was established as the dividing line between U.S. and Soviet zones of occupation, and in 1948 separate civil administrations were established in the two halves of the country. The Korean War (1950-53) ended in a draw, with the armistice line falling close to the prewar 38° line. The Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly called South Korea, occupies the Korean peninsula south of the armistice line.

This page covers lighthouses of the northern part of South Korea's east coast in the province of Gangwon (Gangwon-do), including the counties of Goseong and Yangyang and the city of Sokcho. This coast faces the East Sea (commonly called the Sea of Japan in the West). Most of it is rugged and scenic, but there are some sandy beaches between the headlands. Although there are some famous and historic lighthouses on this coast, many of the more modern lights are not well known.

Navigational aids in the ROK are regulated by the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs (MLTM). MLTM also operates the major coastal lights, but management of harbor lighthouses is in the hands of local port authorities. In Korean, the word for a lighthouse is donghae (등대); dan is a cape, do is an island, and hang is a harbor .

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
 

Sokcho Light
Sokcho Light and Observatory, November 2007
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Dae-Won Kim
Goseong County Lighthouses
Note: Goseong County was split by the armistice line, so North Korea has a county of the same name on the other side of the Demilitarized Zone.
Jeojin (Chojin) Dan Range Front
1991(?). Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); continuous white light. 35 m (115 ft) square concrete tower, painted red and white. Fog horn (4 blasts every 60 s). A Coast Guard photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. This range marks the edge of the maritime exclusion zone adjoining the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas. These lights are easily confused with the lighthouse at Geojin-ri (see below). Jeojin Dan is a cape about 8 km (5 mi) south of the armistice line. Located on the cape, accessible by road; parking provided. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SKR-004; Admiralty M4460; NGA 16365.
Jeojin (Chojin) Dan Range Rear
1991(?). Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); continuous white light. 20 m (66 ft) square concrete skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery red. The tower is in the distance in the photo at right, the Donghae MLTM office has a small photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 1 km (0.6 mi) due west of the front light. Site status unknown. ARLHS SKR-005; Admiralty M4460.1; NGA 16365.1.
* Daejin (Taejin)
1973. Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); white flash every 12 s. 31 m (102 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and an observation room surrounding the tower about 2/3 of the way up, rising from the center of a 1-story octagonal administration building. A photo and a closeup are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on heights above the base of the north breakwater of Daejin harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS SKR-037; Admiralty M4459.9; NGA 16369.

Jeojin Dan Range Lights; Korean Coast Guard photo
* #Daejin North Breakwater (1)
Date unknown. Apparently removed late in 2008; previously focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. CNB News has a photo showing both Daejin breakwater lights, and the tower is present in Google's satellite view, but a 2008 photo shows no tower at all on the breakwater. In 2011, a new light was announced for the breakwater, but it is smaller (7 m (23 ft) tall with a focal plane of 12 m (39 ft). Located at the end of the north breakwater of Daejin. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4459.75; NGA 16374.
* Daejin South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A photo is available, CNB News has a photo showing both Daejin breakwater lights, a 2007 photo also shows both breakwater lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Daejin. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4459.7; NGA 16376.
* Geojin-ri (Kojin-ni) (1) (?)
1965. Inactive since 2008. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo, another photo, and a fine closeup are available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This lighthouse has been replaced, and we aren't certain whether it survives. The area surrounding the lighthouse is a park, the Geojin Lighthouse Sports Park. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) south of Daejin. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SKR-013.
* Geojin-ri (Kojin-ni) (2)
2008 (station established 1965). Active; focal plane 90 m (295 ft); flash every 16 s, alternately red and white. 13 m (42 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A good photo of the new lighthouse is available. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) south of Daejin. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4459.5; NGA 16388.
Geojin-ri East Breakwater (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. A photo is available, a second photo shows both breakwater lights, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Geojin-ri. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4459.6; NGA 16392.
Geojin-ri West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, painted white. A photo shows both breakwater lights, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Geojin-ri. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4459.54; NGA 16396.
* Gonghyeonjin Hang East Breakwater (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. A photo and a second photo show both breakwater lights. The previous light, described as a "red post,"was only 6 m (20 ft) in height; Google's satellite view probably shows this post light. Located on the end of the east breakwater at Gonghyeonjin. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4459.43.
* Gonghyeonjin Hang West Breakwater (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A photo and a second photo show both breakwater lights. Located on the end of the west breakwater at Gonghyeonjin. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4459.44.
Oho Hang East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. A distant photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Other recent photos show a similar tower on the west breakwater, but we have no data on that light. Located on the end of the east breakwater at Oho-ri. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4459.4; NGA 16379.
Munam Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; light characteristic unknown. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower painted white. Claus Højbak has a photo (click on the photo for a better view). NGA lists a red tower on the east breakwater (Admiralty M4459.2; NGA 16386); nothing is seen there in the photo, but the red tower appears in Google's satellite view. Located on the east breakwater at Munam harbor, about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Daejin. Site status unknown.
* Ayajin South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. Photos also show a similar tower (painted red) on the north breakwater, but that light was discontinued about 2007 and we don't know if it survives. Google's satellite view shows both lights. Located on the south breakwater at Ayajin, about 8 km (5 mi) north of Sokcho. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SKR-032; Admiralty M4459.15; NGA 16385.

Sokcho City Lighthouses
Sajin-ri South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. The north breakwater is marked by a red skeletal tower. Located on the south breakwater at Sajin-ri, a fishing harbor on the north side of Sokcho. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4458.64.
*** Sokcho (2)
2006(?) (station established 1957). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); four white flashes every 45 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower rising from a circular 1-story building; an observation deck has been built atop the keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Fog horn (one 5 s blast every 45 s). Dae-Won Kim's photo is at the top of this page, there is a closeup, and a view from the harbor is available. There is a 2004 closeup photo of the original lighthouse, and a second photo is available. Google's satellite view appears to show the older lighthouse. Apparently the new lighthouse was built during 2005 (there are several references to the light being closed that year). The light station includes a popular museum of navigational aids. Located atop a steep hill just north of the harbor of Sokcho. Site open, museum and observation deck apparently open daily. ARLHS SKR-025; Admiralty M4458; NGA 16404.
* Sokcho North Breakwater (2)
2009 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) tapered round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Richard Skipp's photo is at right. There's also a photo of the original light, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north (outer) breakwater of Sokcho. Probably accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4458.4; NGA 16408.
* Sokcho South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical tower, painted white. A closeup is available, John Epergesi has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Sokcho. Probably accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4458.6; NGA 16412.
Jodo (Cho Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. Jinho Jung has a photo, a distant view (taken from the Sokcho lighthouse) is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island just southeast of the entrance to Sokcho harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4458.2; NGA 16416.
Jodo Approach East
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); six quick white flashes followed by one long white flash, every 45s. 22 m (72 ft) beacon mounted on a square platform supported by four large piles. Lower half of the lighthouse painted black, upper half yellow. The beacon is seen in a right background of Seraphina Lee's photo of Jodo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located about 1 km (0.6 mi) east of the Jodo lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4458.15.
Sokcho North Breakwater Light
Sokcho North Breakwater Light, February 2010
Flickr photo copyright Richard Skipp; used by permission
Jodo Approach West
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round 2-stage concrete tower, painted green. The listed tower height of 25 m (82 ft) is clearly too high. Jinho Jung has a photo, Seraphina Lee has a more distant view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located about 500 m (0.3 mi) southeast of Jodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4458.18.
* Daepo Hang Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. Martin Chan has a photo, Jinho Jung has a photo, a closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. The photos show a much larger breakwater being built north of this one, so the light will probably be relocated soon. Located on the east (main) breakwater at Daepo harbor on the south side of Sokcho. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4457; NGA 16420.

Yangyang County Lighthouses
* Mulchi Hang North Breakwater (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round mushroom-shaped concrete tower, painted red. A view along the breakwater and a photo of both lighthouses are available, Younggi Lee also has a photo of the two lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view of the site. Located on the north breakwater of Mulchi harbor, about 7 km (4 mi) south of Sokcho. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.93.
* Mulchi Hang South Breakwater (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round mushroom-shaped concrete tower, painted red. A photo of both lighthouses is available, Younggi Lee also has a photo of the two lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view of the site. Located on the south breakwater of Mulchi harbor, about 7 km (4 mi) south of Sokcho. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.9.
Susan Dan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); white flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a hilltop north of Susan harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4456.5; NGA 16424.
* Susan Dan North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Susan harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.55.
* Susan Dan North Breakwater Spur
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two red flashes every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. A photo is available, the light is on the left of Yoon Heehong's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a north-south spur attached to the north breakwater of Susan harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.555.
* Susan Dan South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. The light is on the right of Yoon Heehong's photo,and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Susan harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.56.
*** Gisamun Dan (Hajodae Beach)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Seongbin Im has a closeup photo, another photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a promontory about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Susan harbor. Site open, tower reported open daily. Admiralty M4456; NGA 16428.
* Gisamun Hang (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower. Lighthouse painted beige; the round mushroom top is painted red. A photo is at right, another photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Another photo shows the original lighthouse. Located on the breakwater of the small harbor sheltered by the cape of Gisamun Dan. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4456.2; NGA 16429.

Gisamun Hang Light; Yangyang Tourist Bureau photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: North Korea | South: Gangneung Area

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Posted October 29, 2007. Checked and revised March 10, 2012. Lighthouses: 30. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.