Lighthouses of South Korea: Sacheon and Namhae Area

This page covers lighthouses of Sacheon City, Namhae County, and Hadong County in southwestern Gyeongsangnam (South Gyeongsang) province on South Korea's south coast. Sacheon is a city on the mainland, while Namhae County includes the major islands of Namhae and Changseon and many smaller islands just offshore from Sacheon. Hadong is a mainland county to the west of Sacheon; it has only a short coastline.

This coast faces the Korea Strait, which connects the East Sea (commonly called the Sea of Japan in the West) to the East China Sea. It is an intricate and rocky coast, with numerous islands of all sizes offshore. Although there are several famous and historic lighthouses on this coast, many of the more modern lights are not well known.

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.

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. Most of the lights on this page are maintained by the Masan office of MLTM; lights of Namhaedo, at the extreme southwestern end of Gyeongsangnam, are maintained by the Yeosu office in neighboring Jeollanam province. 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
Aids to Navigation Status
Light list (in Korean) posted by the MLTM office in Masan.
Port of Yeosu - Navigational Aids
This site has a map of navigational aids in the Yeosu area and links to information pages for the major lighthouses (all in Korean).

Bamam Light
Bamam Light, Sacheon, June 2007
Panoramio photo copyright kk4241; permission requested

Sacheon City Lighthouses

Sinsudo (Shinsudo) Lighthouses
Note: Sinsudo is an island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) long that lies in the approach to Sacheon harbor from the southeast. The island is about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of the Sacheon Shin Hang (New Port).
Chudo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with one yellow horizontal band. A photo is available (second pair of photos on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a reef on the northeastern tip of Sinsudo, about 800 m (1.2 mi) south of the entrance to the Shin Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4320.45; NGA 16968.
* Sinsudo South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical red concrete tower with gallery. A photo is available, an account of an elementary school field trip has several photos (halfway down the page); one is at right. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Sinsudo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.12; NGA 16966.
* Sinsudo North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. A photo is available, an account of an elementary school field trip has several photos (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Sinsudo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.08; NGA 16965.
Bamam (Pamam)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band. A closeup photo is at the top of this page, a more distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the northwestern tip of Sinsudo and about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the entrance to the harbor of Sacheon. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4319.5; NGA 16978.
Sinsudo South Breakwater Light
Sinsudo South Breakwater Light, October 2009
Creative Commons photo posted by Sinsudo Elementary School

Sacheon Harbor Lighthouses
* Sinhyang
2009 (?). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A photo is at right, a closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a short breakwater at Sinhyang southeast of Sacheon. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4320.25.
Sinhyang Hang (Shin Hang) East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A distant view is available (this light is at the far left), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of the Shin Hang (New Port) southeast of Sacheon. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4320.2; NGA 16986.
Mokseom
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the east end of an island on the west side of the Shin Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4319; NGA 17000.
Mokseom West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater projecting from the west end of Mokseom. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4319.2; NGA 16999.
Sinhyang Light
Sinhyang Light, October 2009
Creative Commons photo posted by Sinsudo Elementary School
Sacheon (Samcheonpo Hang) East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Sacheon's ferry harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4320.4; NGA 16983.3.
Sacheon (Samcheonpo Hang) West Breakwater South Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A view from shore is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the detached west breakwater of Sacheon's ferry harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4320.42; NGA 16983.
Gwangseo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); quick-flashing white light. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, painted yellow with a black band at the top. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) south of the Sacheon waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4318.5; NGA 16977.
* Daebang Hang East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round red concrete tower with gallery. A small photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Daebang Hang is a small boat harbor just east of the bridge connecting Sacheon to Changseondo. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Daebang Hang. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4320.3; NGA 16981.
* Daebang Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower with gallery. A small photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Daebang Hang. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4320.35; NGA 16981.5.
* Neukdo (Nuk To) Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. A 2011 photo showing both breakwater lights is available, and Google has a satellite view. Neukdo is one of two islands crossed by the bridges connecting Sacheon to Changseondo in Namhae. Located at the end of the west breakwater of the small boat harbor of Neukdo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4317.75.
Sacheon East Breakwater Light
Sacheon East Breakwater Light, Sacheon, February 2012
Panoramio photo copyright 김 철 봉; used by permission
* Neukdo (Nuk To) Hang East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 4 s (?). 8 m (26 ft) round steel tower, painted white. A 2011 photo showing both breakwater lights is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of the small boat harbor of Neukdo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4317.7: NGA 16975.
Daebang Sudo (Chinju Man)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted red. A photo is available (halfway down the page), the lighthouse appears under the bridge in a photo of the Bamam light, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock at the western entrance to Sacheon harbor, about 1 km (0.6 mi) southeast of the Changseon suspension bridge connecting Sacheon to Changseon island in Namhae. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4318; NGA 16976.
Changseon (Changson, Changso)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 6 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Entire lighthouse is green. The active light appears to be on top of the lantern. A photo is available (a little more than 1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) northwest of the Changseon bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4317.5; NGA 16974.

Seopo District Lighthouse
Hyanggido (Kokido, Koki To) (3?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock about 8 km (5 mi) west of Sacheon harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4315; NGA 17040.

Namhae County Lighthouses

Korea Strait Lighthouses
Gudolseo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. A small photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the islet. Located on a small island 20 km (13 mi) south southwest of Nammudo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.35; NGA 17088.
Sejondo (Sejon Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete base. Entire lighthouse is white. A view from the sea is available (a portion of this view is at right), but the islet is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Located on a small island about 40 km (25 mi) south of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.3; NGA 17084.

Changseongdo Lighthouses
Note: Changseondo is an island between Sacheon and Namhaedo. The island is roughly triangular, about 10 km (6 mi) on a side, but it is nearly split in half north to south by a long narrow bay.
* Chongnyang Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Chongnyang harbor, on the east coast of Changseongdo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.13; NGA 17001.
Jang Got
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of the southeastern peninsula of Changseondo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4321.2; NGA 17004.
Sejondo Light
Sejondo Light, Korea Strait, August 2010
Panoramio photo copyright 알렉스; permission requested
Dangjeo Hang Breakwater
2009. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical red concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east (main) breakwater of Dangjeo Hang, a small boat harbor on the south side of Changseongdo about 2 km (1.25 mi) east of the bridge connecting Changseongdo to Namhaedo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.66.

Namhaedo East Coast Lighthouses
Jijok
1965. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical red concrete tower mounted on a round concrete pier. A view across the channel is available, Google has a satellite view. Located just east of the south end of the bridge connecting Changseongdo to Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4321.6; NGA 17036.
* Mulgeon Hang North Breakwater (Mulgon Hang)
1993. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Kim Jae-yeol has a view of both Mulgeon lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Mulgeon, on the southeast coast of Namhaedo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.48; NGA 17018.
* Mulgeon Hang South Breakwater
1998. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. Kim Jae-yeol has a view of both Mulgeon lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at Mulgeon. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.49; NGA 17018.5.
* Eunjeom Hang East Breakwater
2007. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. A photo of both breakwater lights is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east (main) breakwater of Eunjeom, a small boat harbor about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) south of Mulgeon Hang. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.494.
* Eunjeom Hang West Breakwater
2007. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo of both breakwater lights is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the short west breakwater of Eunjeom. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.493.

Namhaedo South Coast Lighthouses
Mijo Hang South Harbor North (East) Breakwater
1985. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Mijo, at the southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4322.3; NGA 17028.
Eunjeom Hang Breakwater Lights
Eunjeom Hang Breakwater Lights, Namhaedo, February 2012
Panoramio photo copyright 김 철 봉; used by permission
Mijo Hang South Harbor South Breakwater
1981. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) concrete post rising from a round 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at Mijo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4322.2; NGA 17024.
Godo (Mijo-gundo)
1999. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) concrete tower, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the extreme southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4322.35; NGA 17090.
Baekseo
1969. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. Bing has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Mijo Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.9; NGA 17092.
Daedo (2)
2006 (station established 1969). Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white flash every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery supported by eight buttresses. MLTM's photo is at right. Bing has a satellite view. Located on an isolated island about 4 km (2.5 mi) off the south coast of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.8; NGA 17100.
Kumsan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view. Located atop a high promontory on the south coast of Namhaedo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.94; NGA 17096.
Pyeongsan (2)
Date unknown (station established 1969). Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (?) (26 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. Google has a satellite view of the station. This is an important light guiding vessels in the approach to the port of Yeosu. Light lists describe an 8 m (26 ft) round tower; the current tower may well be taller. Located atop a bluff at the southwestern corner of Namhaedo. Site status unknown (this may be a Coast Guard station). Admiralty M4310.2; NGA 17112.

Namhaedo West Coast Lighthouses
Samyeo (Sam Gi)
1969. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round vase-shaped concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located about 1.6 km (1 mi) off the central west coast of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4310.6; NGA 17124.
Daedo Light
Daedo Light, 2007; MLTM Yeosu Office photo
Sangtan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the westernmost point of Namhaedo, opposite Gwangyang harbor. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. Admiralty M4310.7; NGA 17144.
Umoseo (Umo So, Woomoseo)
1989. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower, painted red, mounted on a large round concrete pier. Google has a satellite view. Located on a dangerous reef about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Gwangyang harbor in Jeollanam province. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4311; NGA 17056.
Eomsudo (Umsu Do)
1989. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower, painted red, mounted on a large round concrete pier. Google has a satellite view. Located on a dangerous reef about 7 km (4 mi) southwest of Noryang and a similar distance east of Gwangyang harbor in Jeollanam province. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4311.4; NGA 17060.
Noryang (Noryang Sudo, Hangdo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) tower, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock about 1.6 km (1 mi) southwest of the entrance to the harbor of Noryang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4311.78; NGA 17047.
Wado
1991. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. Bing has a satellite view. Located at the north end of a small island off the northwest coast of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4311.8; NGA 17046.
* Okdong
1989. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) robust round white concrete tower. Bing's satellite view shows that the parking area seen in the MLTM photo has been added recently. Located at the tip of a promontory on the north coast of Namhaedo, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of the Namhae bridge. Site open (parking provided), tower closed. Admiralty M4314; NGA 17044.

Hadong County Lighthouses

Noryang Area Lighthouses
Note: Noryang, also called Sinnoryang, is a small port on the mainland just west of the Namhae bridge.
* Noryang East Breakwater
2007. Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with two decorative ribs, painted red. Han-Yoon Sik's photo of the two breakwater lighthouses is at right, Kim Tae-hyung has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The harbor has been rebuilt and expanded recently. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Noryang. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4312.6.
* Noryang West Breakwater
2007. Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with two decorative ribs, painted white. Han-Yoon Sik's photo of the two breakwater lighthouses is at right, Kim Tae-hyung has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Noryang. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4312.5.
Wa Gi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of the Noryang waterfront, on the north side of the approach channel. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4311.6; NGA 17048.
Noryang Breakwater Lights
Noryang Breakwater Lights, November 2007
Panoramio photo copyright Han Yoon-Sik; used by permission

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Goseong Bay | West: Yeosu

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Posted December 4, 2007. Checked and revised April 14, 2013. Lighthouses: 45. Site copyright 2013 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.