Lighthouses of South Korea: Northern Busan

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 half of the metropolitan area of Busan on South Korea's southeast coast. With a population of more than 3.5 million, Busan (formerly spelled Pusan) is Korea's second largest city and largest port. The city faces the Korea Strait, which connects the East Sea (commonly called the Sea of Japan in the West) to the East China Sea. It stands on an intricate and rocky coast, with numerous islands of all sizes offshore.

The Busan area has some of the most unusual lighthouses in the world; several are pictured on this page. The northern suburbs have become an outdoor gallery of artistic lighthouses, including those seen on a page posted by the Gijang County tourist agency.

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. KR numbers, where available, are from the Korean light list. 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
KAAN Major Lighthouse Information
KAAN is the Korean Association of Aids to Navigation. Click on the map for information concerning each province, and then scroll down for small photos. All the data is in Korean. An English version of the page has the names of the lighthouses, but no photos.
Kiso's Lighthouses - Korea
Photos posted by a Japanese lighthouse fan.
Lighthouses in South Korea
Photos available from Wikimedia.

Oryukdo Light
Oryukdo Light, October 2011
U.S. Navy/Wikimedia public domain photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erin Devenberg
Gijang County Lighthouses
* Wollae-ri (Wolnae-ri) North Breakwater
2008. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted red. A photo and a second photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north breakwater at Wollae-ri, a small harbor near the northern border of the Busan metropolitan region. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.62.
* Wollae-ri (Wolnae-ri) South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. A photo showing both breakwater lighthouses is available, Sang-il Seok has a distant view of both lighthouses, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the south breakwater at Wollae-ri. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.6; NGA 16714.
* Munjung Hang North Breakwater
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flashing light, characteristics unknown. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. A photo and a night time photo are available, but Google's satellite view does not reveal the tower. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Munjung harbor, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Hakri Hang. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed.
* Munjung Hang South Breakwater
2002. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Several photos are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Munjung harbor. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.55.
* Chiram Hang (Chilam-ri) Breakwater
2010. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round fiberglass tower, shaped like a baseball bat and accompanied by sculptures of a ball and glove. An MLTM photo is at right, and another photo is available, but the light is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. This interesting lighthouse honors Busan's reputation as Korea's "Baseball City" and Korea's gold metal in baseball won at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The lighthouse was dedicated on 25 November 2010. Located at the end of the breakwater at Chilam-ri, just north of Sinpyeong Hang. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-1440.6.
Sinpyeong Hang South Breakwater
2003. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of a detached breakwater about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Munjung Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-1439.9; Admiralty M4377.53.
* Dongbaek Hang North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Jang Hyo Wang has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Dongbaek harbor. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.7.
* Dongbaek Hang South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. The light is at the right edge of Jang Hyo Wang's distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Dongbaek harbor. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1439.6; Admiralty M4377.7.
* I-dong Hang Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of I-dong harbor. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.575.
Hakri Hang Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 5 s. 11.5 m (37 ft) round white concrete tower. A photo is available (2/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the south side of the entrance to Hakri, a harbor about 20 km (13 mi) northeast of downtown Busan. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4377.5; NGA 16718.
Chilam-ri Light
Chilam-ri Breakwater Light, November 2010
MLTM photo
Hangni Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band. A photo and a more distant view are available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of a reef projecting into the East Sea just south of Hakri. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4377.51.
Jukseong Breakwater
2004. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. A photo is available (2/3 the way down the page), also a closeup, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater of the fishing harbor at Jukseong, a town about 18 km (12 mi) northeast of downtown Busan. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4376.58.
Duho Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire structure painted green. A photo and a sunrise closeup are available, and Google has a satellite view. This light is offshore from the Jukseong faux lighthouse. Located on a reef about 1.6 km (1 mi) east of Jukseong. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-1440.4; Admiralty M4376.6.
* Woljeon Hang
2010. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical hollow concrete tower with jagged sections missing along two edges. Outside of the tower painted red. A small photo of this artistic lighthouse is available (at the bottom of the page), but the tower is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located on the main breakwater of Woljeon village. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-1440.5; Admiralty M4376.4.
Gwanggyemal
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 6 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory just south of Woljeon. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4376.3.
* Daebyeon Hang East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two red flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and unusual tripod supports, painted red; there is also a spherical white structure around the lower part of the tower. A photo is at right, a closeup of this unusual light is available, also a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the outer breakwater at Daebyeon, an important fishing harbor about 16 km (10 mi) east northeast of Busan. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1441; Admiralty M4375.9; NGA 16721.
* Daebyeon Hang Inner Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Lee Sung-bok has a photo, Lee Iljoo has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater; accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4376; NGA 16720.
Daebyeon Hang South Breakwater East End
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); green flash every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. The light is decorated with dark blue "ears" and markings suggesting a face. Lee Iljoo has a photo of the two lighthouses on the breakwater, there's a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of a short detached breakwater just south of the east breakwater light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-1442.10; Admiralty M4375.95; NGA 16722.5.
Daebyeon Hang East Breakwater Light
Daebyeon Hang East Breakwater Light, May 2009
Panoramio photo copyright oldpavilion; permission requested
Daebyeon Hang South Breakwater West End
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); yellow flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted yellow. Lee Iljoo has a photo of the two lighthouses on the breakwater, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-1442.11; Admiralty M4375.98; NGA 16723.
* Seoam North Breakwater
2010. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); red flash every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) platform with stairs and staircase sides upswept like the prow of a ship. Sides of the structure painted red. Lee Iljoo has a photo, but the tower is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located on the north breakwater of Seoam harbor, just south of the Daebyeon harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4376.01.
* Seoam South Breakwater
2010. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); red flash every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) round concrete tower, shaped like a baby's bottle. A small photo is available (fourth photo on the page), but the tower is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located on the south breakwater of Seoam harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4376.02.
Dongameo Hang North Breakwater
2007. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. A photo is available (second photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Dongameo. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed but an observation platform is accessible by stairs. Admiralty M4375.81.

Haeundae District Lighthouses
* Songjeong North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Marjorie Ordillas has a closeup and a photo of both breakwater lights, an evening photo is available, there's a portfolio of photos of the two breakwater lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Songjeong. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1443.2; Admiralty M4375.7.
* Songjeong South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Marjorie Ordillas has a photo of both breakwater lights, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at Songjeong. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1443.3; Admiralty M4375.71.
Songjeongri (Songjungri, Songjeong-ni)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round tower, painted black with one yellow horizontal band. The lighthouse appears on the horizon of a photo of the Songjeong North Breakwater Light, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) offshore and 8 km (5 mi) northeast of the Busan harbor entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4375.6; NGA 16724.
* Cheongsapo (Chongsapo, Haeundae) East Breakwater
2008. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); red flash every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted red. Jens-Olaf Walter's photo is at right, Alejandro Kim also has a photo of the two Cheongsapo lighthouses, a distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouses are not present in Lee Iljoo's 2007 photo of the harbor. Located on the west breakwater at Cheongsapo harbor in Haeundae. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1339.1; Admiralty M4375.52; NGA 16724.22.
* Cheongsapo (Chongsapo, Haeundae) West Breakwater
2008. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); green flash every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Jens-Olaf Walter's photo is at right, Alejandro Kim also has a photo of the two Cheongsapo lighthouses, Kalle Brunö has a photo, a 2009 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west breakwater at Cheongsapo harbor in Haeundae. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-1339.2; Admiralty M4375.53; NGA 16724.21.
Gyoseokchu (Kyosokchu)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three quick white flashes every 5 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with one yellow horizontal band. A view from shore is available, Alejandro Kim also has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the outermost of a group of small rocks about 1 km (0.6 mi) offshore from the Haeundae section of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4375.5; NGA 16724.2.
Cheongsapo Lights
Cheongsapo Breakwater Lights, October 2010
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Jens-Olaf Walter

Suyeong District Lighthouses
Suyeong (Suyong) Man (Mipo)
Date unknown (probably 2005). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 20 m (66 ft) tower, shaped to resemble a lotus flower, mounted on a square concrete pier. The lighthouse is red with a yellow band and white "stamens" at the top. A small photo is available (next to last photo on the page), there's a view from the beach (third photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. According to the tourist agency, this very unusual lighthouse was built to honor the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit meeting held in Busan in 2005. Located on a skerry about 800 m (1/2 mi) south of the Suyeong fishing harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4375.55. NGA 16724.3.
* Millakdong (Millaktong) East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. A photo is available (showing the Gangwan Bridge in the background), and Google has a satellite view. The Millakdong harbor is a small basin in the Suyeong district on the east side of Busan. Located at the end of the east breakwater. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4374.2; NGA 16727.
* Millakdong (Millaktong) West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Millakdong. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4374.3; NGA 16727.1.

Busan Harbor Lighthouses
Oryukdo (2)
1999 (station established 1937). Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 10 s. 28 m (92 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 3-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. This remarkable lighthouse is perched atop a steep-sided rocky pinnacle. A photo is at the top of this page, L. Matticus has a fine photo, Sarah Booth has a closeup, Martin Watson has a more distant view, a 2007 view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Oryukdo is a chain of five picturesque islets (or six at high tide) east of the entrance to Busan harbor. All vessels entering or leaving must pass close to the lighthouse, and this familiarity has made it a symbol of the city. Located on the southernmost islet, Dungdaeseom ("Lighthouse Islet"). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed, but sightseeing boats and tours pass close to the lighthouse. ARLHS SKR-046; KR-2002; Admiralty M4374; NGA 16732.
Busan Middle (Oryukdo) Breakwater Northeast End (2?)
Date unknown. Active (?); focal plane 17 m (56 ft); yellow flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted yellow. The lighthouse is at the far left in Tom Wisdom's photo at right, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the detached middle breakwater in the outer entrance to Busan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4356.7; NGA 16733.
Busan Middle (Oryukdo) Breakwater Southwest End (2?)
Date unknown. Active (?); focal plane 20 m (66 ft); red 2 s on, 2 s off. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The lighthouse is on the right in Tom Wisdom's photo at right, another photo is available, Paul Kim has a view from the harbor (note the Oryukdo lighthouse in the distance), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached middle breakwater in the outer entrance to Busan; the main channel passes between this light and the south outer breakwater light (see below). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4356.6; NGA 16733.1.
Busan Middle Breakwater Lights
Busan Middle Breakwater Lights, December 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Tom Wisdom
Busan Inner Harbor North (Gamman Wharf) (1)
1905. Inactive. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and black horizontal bands; lantern dome painted white. Newmarine Enginering has a closeup photo. Formerly located at the end of a short pier marking the north side of the entrance to Busan's inner harbor. Sometime in late 2008 or 2009 the lighthouse was removed and relocated to a park; we do not know its present location. Site open, tower closed.
#Busan Inner Harbor North (Gamman Wharf) (2) (?)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2007. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The Admiralty reported this light discontinued in January 2008, and Google's satellite view no longer shows this light. It was located in the water about 40 m (130 ft) southwest of the original lighthouse. Footings are being constructed in the area for the Busan North Harbor Bridge project. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty M4358; NGA 16740.1.
*** Busan Tower
2010 (announced; tower built 1973). In November 2009, MLTM announced plans to install a powerful directional light atop the tower; characteristics not yet known. 119 m (390 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower topped by an octagonal observation room. Wikipedia has a photo by Deborah Hong, and Google has a satellite view. A December 2010 photo may show the light in action. A very popular tourist attraction, the tower provides spectacular views of the city and harbor. Located on a low hilltop in Yongdusan Park in downtown Busan. Site and tower open.
Deungmudari (2)
Date unknown (station established 1911). Active; focal plane 12m (39 ft); quick-flashing white light. 13 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. The tower is left of center in a distant view of the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in the inner harbor of Busan about 500 m (0.4 mi) west of the south breakwater lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4360; NGA 16748.
Busan Inner Harbor South (South Breakwater)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Google has a satellite view that shows work in progress for the Busan North Harbor Bridge. Located at the outer end of a detached breakwater at the entrance to the inner harbor of Busan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4361; NGA 16740.2.
Haegyeong
2008. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the pier of the cruise ship terminal on the south side of Busan harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4356.55.
Busan Inner Harbor South Breakwater Light
Busan Inner Harbor South Breakwater Light
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger
used by permission
Bukbin
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round skeletal tower with gallery and an open lantern structure. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of an L-shaped breakwater on the south side of Busan harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4356.58.
Busan South Outer (Jodo) Breakwater East End
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 13 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is available (a portion of this photo is at right), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of the detached breakwater on the southwest side of the outer entrance to Busan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4356.4; NGA 16734.
Busan South Outer (Jodo) Breakwater West End
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); yellow flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted yellow. Sergei Korsun has a distant view, there's another distant view in the photo of the east end light (click on the photo for enlargement), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of the detached breakwater on the southwest side of the outer entrance to Busan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4356.5; NGA 16735.
Dongsandong (Tongsandong) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo and a view from the sea are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the breakwater of a small basin about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of the Busan harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4356.2; NGA 16737.
Busan Jodo Breakwater East End Light
Jodo Breakwater East End Light, September 2008
Panoramio photo copyright dkovtyukh; used by permission

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Ulsan | South: Southern Busan

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Posted December 4, 2007. Checked and revised April 14, 2012. Lighthouses: 44. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.