Lighthouses of South Korea: Yeosu

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 Yeosu, a major port in southeastern Jeollanam (South Jeolla) province. Yeosu is located in the central part of Korea's south coast. The city occupies the Yeosu peninsula and includes several hundred islands of all sizes. The islands of Dolsando, Geomodo, and Yeondo extend southward in a ragged line from the southeastern end of the Yeosu peninsula. The population of the city was only about 300,000 in 2007, but the port is developing rapidly as an alternative to Busan.

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
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).
Kiso's Lighthouses - Korea
Photos posted by a Japanese lighthouse fan.


Odongdo Light, Yeosu
Yeosu Port Office photo
Yeosu City Lighthouses
Gwangyang (Kwangyang) Passage
1999. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted red. Access to the galleries is by an external stairway the spirals around the tower. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the entrance to the industrial harbor of Gwangyang, off the eastern end of the island of Myodo, about 20 km (13 mi) north of Yeosu. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4310.82; NGA 17200.8.
Dunpyeongtan (Tunpyeongtan)
2005. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted black with one red horizontal band, mounted on a round concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 1200 m (3/4 mi) off the east coast of the Yeosu Peninsula, halfway between Gwangyang and Yeosu harbors. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4310.63; NGA 17123.
Yeosu New Port (Yosushin Hang) North Breakwater
1992. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of the harbor, north of Odongdo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4310.3; NGA 17126.
* Yeosu North Breakwater
2010. Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, shaped like a torch, mounted on a concrete base. A closeup photo and a second photo are available, the Expo 2012 web site has another photo (near the bottom of the page), a view across the harbor is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of the Expo 2012 world's fair site. Site open; visitors can climb to an observation platform near the base of the tower. Admiralty M4310.3; NGA 17126
* Yeosu East Breakwater
2010. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, shaped like a bottle, mounted on a square concrete base. A distant photo and a second photo are available, there's a black and white 2012 view from the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater, which extends northward from Odongdo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4310.4; NGA 17128.
Kwangyang Passage Light
Gwangyang Passage Light, January 2000
photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission
*** Odongdo (Yeosu) (2)
2002 (station established 1952). Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); white flash every 10 s. 27 m (82 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a large octagonal observation deck about 3/4 of the way up the tower. A square cylindrical secondary tower, connected by a bridge to the observation deck, has an elevator providing visitor access to the deck. Entire structure painted white. A 2-story building connected to the lighthouse is the public information center for the 2012 World's Fair in Yeosu. A 2008 photo is available, a closeup is available, Kiso also has a photo (fourth lighthouse listed), and Google has a satellite view. This modern lighthouse replaced a 10.5 m (34 ft) tower built during the Korean War. Odongdo is an island about 500 m (0.4 mi) in diameter that partly shelters the harbor of Yeosu. The island is connected to the mainland by a broad breakwater and causeway about 800m (0.5 mi) long. Located on the highest point of the island, commanding a sweeping view of the bay and islands in the vicinity. Site open; observation deck open daily. ARLHS SKR-018; Admiralty M4310; NGA 17116.
Yangam (Yang-Am)
1986. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one broad red horizontal band. Google has a good satellite view. Located on a shoal about 800 m (1/2 mi) east of the Odongdo lighthouse. Accessible only by boat, but there must be a good view from Odongdo. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4309.8; NGA 17100.
* Hamel (Chongpo Breakwater)
2005. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and four ribs. Lighthouse painted red. Lucie Zidkova's photo is at right, Justin Lee has a photo, another photo is available, the city has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse recognizes Hendrick Hamel, a Dutchman shipwrecked near Yeosu in 1653 with 35 crewmates; he lived in Korea for 13 years and later wrote a book about his adventures. Located at the end of short breakwater on the north side of Yeosu harbor. Readily accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4310.52; NGA 17135.
* Yeosu Gu Hang
1981. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) post light attached to a round 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short pier on the north side of Yeosu harbor. Site status unknown, but the light is easily seen from the quay. Admiralty M4310.54; NGA 17140.
Janggungdo (Changgungdo)
1986. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. Google has a satellite view. Located at the northwestern corner of Janggungdo, an island in the center of Yeosu's harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4310.57; NGA 17136.
Ammogdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island at the entrance to Yeosu harbor from the southwest. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4310.74; NGA 17152.
Mamuram
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) concrete tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef on the north side of the entrance to Yeosu harbor from the southwest. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.75; NGA 17211.
Hamel Light
Hamel Light, Yeosu, July 2009
Flickr photo copyright Lucie Zidkova; used by permission

Dolsan Town Lighthouses
Note: Dolsando is an island about 15 km (9 mi) long and 10 km (6 mi) wide, located southeast of the Yeosu peninsula. The island is accessible from Yeosu by bridge. Dolsan Town includes Dolsando and some smaller nearby islands.
Dolsan (Dolsando, Tolsan, Yeosu Hang)
Date unknown (station established 1944). Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. A very distant view from the water is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high hill on the southeast side of the Yeosu harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4309; NGA 17104.
Daedan (Taedan)
2001. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. Google has an indistinct satellite view of the location. Located on a promontory on the northeast coast of Dolsando, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of the Dolsan lighthouse. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.98; NGA 17101.
* Jakgeum Hang
2002. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with three decorative ribs, painted red. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on the east breakwater sheltering small boat harbors at the southern end of Dolsando. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.45; NGA 17161.
Geumseong (Kumsong)
1986. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted red. Bing has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the south coast of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.5; NGA 17160.
Hajundo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view. Located off the southwestern tip of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.55; NGA 17165.
Jakgeum Hang Light
Jakgeum Hang Light, Dolsan
Yeosu Port Office photo

South Township: Geomodo Area Lighthouses
Note: Geomodo is an island south of Dolsando and north of Yeondo. The island is accessible by ferry. South Township (Nammyeon) includes Geomodo and neighboring islands.
Daehoenggando (Taehonggan Do)
1965. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, painted yellow with one black horizontal band. Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of an underwater reef off the northwestern tip of Hoenggando, about 2 km (1.25 mi) south of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.4; NGA 17156.
Hwataedo
1997. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located off the southwestern tip of Dolsando, Hwataedo is one of the numerous small islands between Yeondo and the southern end of the Yeosu peninsula. The lighthouse is off the east end of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty 4307.25; NGA 17154.
Wolho
2000. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted green. Bing has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the south side of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.2.
Dolsando Approaches (Tolsando)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower, painted yellow with one black horizontal band. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view. Located off the west coast of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.25; NGA 17153.
Hamgumi
2000. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted white. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on the northwestern tip of Geomodo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4307.05; NGA 17226.
Sohoenggando
1989. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. A port office photo is at right, but Bing has a distant satellite view. Located at the southwestern end of an island off the northeastern tip of Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.8; NGA 17075.
Baedaseo
2007. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. The lighthouse is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located on a shoal about 5 km (3 mi) east of Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.78.
Huseo (Huso)
1998. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a red horizontal band. Bing has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the central east coast of Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.75; NGA 17074.5.
Soyu
1989. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a yellow horizontal band. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on a shoal just off the central east coast of Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.7; NGA 17074.
Sohoenggando Light
Jakgeum Hang Light, Geomodo
Yeosu Port Office photo
Ando (Baekkum, Paekkum)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available, but Bing has a distant and indistinct satellite view. Ando (An Do) is a smaller island off the southeastern end of Geomodo. Located at the northeastern tip of Ando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.5; NGA 17072.
Geomodo Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete tower, painted yellow with a black horizontal band. No photo available, but Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on a reef at the south side of the entrance to the bay leading to Geomodo harbor, on the south side of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NGA 17073.
Iljonggot
2008. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); nine quick white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a yellow horizontal band. The lighthouse is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located just off the southwestern tip of Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.28.

South Township: Yeondo (Sorido) Area Lighthouses
Note: Yeondo, formerly called Sorido, is a rugged island about 5.5 km (3.5 mi) long, located at the end of an archipelago extending southward into the Korea Strait from the end of the Yeosu peninsula. The island is accessible by high-speed ferry from Yeosu.
Gumong-Am (Kumong-Am)
1986. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. Bing has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Yeondo and 2 km (1.25 mi) south southwest of Ando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4307.3; NGA 17068.
Singangseo (Suri Do, Shingangso)
1992. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); quick-flashing white light. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on a reef just off the northern tip of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.1; NGA 17069.5.
Jakdo
2003. Active; focal plane 117 m (384 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) square steel tower. No photo available, but Bing has a distant satellite view. Located atop a small but high island about 10 km (6 mi) east of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.15; NGA 17063.
Ganyeo-Am
1986. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white flash every 6 s, 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. Google has only a very distant satellite view of the rock. Located on an isolated rock about 13 km (8 mi) south of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4308.2; NGA 17080.
Sorido (Sori Do, Yeondo)
1910. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 12 s. 9 m (30 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Several additional 1-story station buildings. Fog siren (one blast every 54 s). A photo is at right, and Bing has a satellite view of the station. It is not clear if the light station is readily accessible; there is a road to the station but the lack of photos suggests that it is not open to the public. Located on a sharp promontory at the southeastern tip of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS SKR-028; Admiralty M4308; NGA 17064.
Sorido Light
Sorido Light, Yeondo
Yeosu Port Office photo

Hwayang Township Lighthouses
Goseo (Koso)
1985. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white (?) flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4307; NGA 17224.
Horido
1995. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); quick-flashing white light. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rock in the channel about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4306.5; NGA 17215.
Baegyado (Paegyado, Paekyado) (1)
1928. Inactive since 2006. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The port office has a portfolio of photos of the station, a good closeup is available, and Bing has a distant satellite view. Baegyado (Paegyado) is an island off the southern tip of the Yeosu peninsula. Located on the eastern end of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS SKR-022.
Baegyado (Paegyado, Paekyado) (2)
2006 (station established 1928). Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); white flash every 20 s. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Several 1-story keeper's houses and other light station buildings. All structures painted white. A port office photo is at right, and a view from the sea is available. The new lighthouse was announced in a Notice to Mariners dated 1 December 2006. Located above the historic lighthouse. The old tower probably survives, although no photos have been found showing both towers. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4306; NGA 17216.
Changgudo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is red. Bing has a satellite view. Located in narrow passage between two islands about 5 km (3 mi) west of the Baegyado lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4305.6; NGA 17222.
Nangdo (Nang Do)
1985. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower mounted an an octagonal base. The light is not seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. Located on a small island off the eastern tip of the Goheung peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4305; NGA 17220.

2006 Baegyado Light; Yeosu Port Office photo
* Nangdo Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Nangdo harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4305.2; NGA 17221.
Odong (Odo, Chokkum-do)
2002. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. A very distant view is available, and Bing has a satellite view. Located on an islet east of Jeokgeumdo, an island off the east side of the Goheung peninsula. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4305.4; NGA 17219.
Soyojado
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindricl white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated islet west of Togyang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4305.45; NGA 17218.1.
Yeoja Man (Yoja Man)
1991. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock west of Togyang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4305.5; NGA 17218.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Sacheon and Namhae | South: Jeju | West: Goheung Area

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Posted January 9, 2008. Lighthouses: 45. Checked and revised April 21, 2013. Site copyright 2013 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.