Lighthouses of South Korea: Sinan and Mokpo

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 Mokpo area in Jeollanam Province, located on South Korea's southwest coast in the region formerly known as Jeolla or Cholla. Many of the lighthouses are in Sinan County, which includes a large archipelago west of Mokpo. The coast of Jeolla faces southwest on the East China Sea and west on the Yellow 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, most 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
Port of Mokpo - Lighthouses
Photos and information in English for the major lighthouses of the area.
Kiso's Lighthouses - Korea
Photos posted by a Japanese lighthouse fan.
Korean Association of Aids to Navigation - Sinan
Photos and limited information for five of the provinces's most famous lighthouses.
Lighthouses in South Korea
Photos available from Wikimedia.

2003 Hwaweon Bando Light
2003 Hwaweon Bando Light, February 2012
Jeollanam Province News Bureau photo

Southern Sinan (Shinan) County Lighthouses

Jangsan District Lighthouses
Changdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. Kim Bong-sun has a distant view, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island southwest of Jangsando, marking the passage northward from Jindo toward Mokpo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4237; NGA 17612.

Heuksan District (Far Southwestern Islands) Lighthouses
Soheuksando (Sohuksando)
1907. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); white flash every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. Fog horn (one blast every 60 s). KAAN's photo is at right, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. This is perhaps Korea's most remote lighthouse. Located at the northwestern point of the island of Soheuksando, about 100 km (60 mi) west southwest of Jindo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4227; NGA 17708.
Mulsogmal
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 156 m (512 ft); white flash every 10 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on heights at the southeastern end of Soheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4227.4; NGA 17710.
Manjaedo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 195 m (640 ft); white flash every 5 s. 5.5 m (18 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on an isolated high island about 50 km (30 mi) northeast of Soheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4228; NGA 17704.
Hataedo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on an island about 60 km (38 mi) north northeast of Soheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4226; NGA 17700.

Sohuksando Light
Soheuksando Light
Korean Association of Aids to Navigation photo

Hongdo
1931. Active; focal plane 89 m (292 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 14 m (46 ft) two-stage square concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. 1-story concrete keeper's house and other light station buildings. A photo is below right, and KAAN has a photo (second photo on the page), but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Hongdo is a small island about 100 km (60 mi) west of Mokpo. Located at the northern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4222; NGA 17696.
Taeheuksando (Taehuksando) North Breakwater (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. Kim Bong-Sun has a photo, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Taeheuksando is an island about 16 km (10 mi) long and about 130 km (80 mi) east of Mokpo; it is the largest and most populous of the Heuksan islands. Located at the end of the detached north breakwater of Taeheuksando harbor, at the north end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4223.4; NGA 17683.
Taeheuksando (Taehuksando) South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) concrete post light rising from a 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Kim Bong-Sun has a photo, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Taeheuksando harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4223.3; NGA 17682.
Hongdo Light
Hongdo Light; Port of Mokpo photo
Hojangdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 78 m (256 ft); white flash every 10 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round white concrete tower. The tower is barely visible in Kim Bong-sun's distant view of the island, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a small island off the north coast of Taeheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4222.5; NGA 17678.
Hajukdo (Hajuk-to)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 100 m (328 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view of the island. This light marks the northern tip of the Heuksan islands. Located on an island about 8 km (5 mi) north of Taeheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4225; NGA 17676.
Yongsando (Taehand-do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on a smaller island off the east coast of Taeheuksando. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4223.5; NGA 17688.

Docho (Tocho) District Lighthouses
Uido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of the location. Located at the west end of an island northwest of Jindo. Site status unknown. NGA 17646.
Gyongchido (Kyongchido)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the east end of an island about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Uido. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4229; NGA 17648.
Chongdar-Am
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 3 km (1.8 mi) east of Gyongchido. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4229.1; NGA 17649.
Docho (Touch'ado)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the northern tip of Dochodo, marking the eastern entrance to the strait between Dochodo and Bigeumdo. Site status unknown. NGA 17650.
Jeungdo (Jeung Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the north point of a small island about 3 km (2 mi) east of the Docho light. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4231; NGA 17656.

Bigeum District Lighthouses
Chilbaldo
1905. Active; focal plane 105 m (345 ft); white flash every 15 s. 8.5 m (29 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. Several additional station buildings. KAAN's photo is at right, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of the island. Located on a small island about 50 km (30 mi) due west of Mokpo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4212; NGA 17672.
Bogdo (Pokto)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of the reef. Located on a reef about 6 km (3.5 mi) southwest of Bigeumdo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4229.5; NGA 17645.
Daegogdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the south end of an island off the western entrance to the strait between Bigeumdo and Dochodo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4230; NGA 17643.
Wonpyong Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the west breakwater of Wonpyong harbor, on the north coast of Biguemdo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4212.7; NGA 17669.
Usedo (Use Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 68 m (233 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the west end of an island sheltering Wonpyong. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4212.5; NGA 17668.
Sangsuchsido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the northwest end of an island about 3 km (5 mi) southeast of Bigeumdo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4213; NGA 17652.
Chilbaldo Light
Chilbaldo Light
Korean Association of Aids to Navigation photo

Anjwa District Lighthouses
Sangsachido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); nine quick white flashes every 13 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower, painted yellow with a black horizontal band. No photo available, but Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a shoal about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of the Sangsuchsido light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NGA 17661.
Samdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a tiny island off the northwest coast of Anjwado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4213.5; NGA 17660.
Chido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. The tower is barely visible in Kim Bong-Sun's very distant view of the island, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located atop a small island about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Mokpo and 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Anjwado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4235; NGA 17614.

Palgeum District Lighthouse
Palgeumdo (P'algum Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the western tip of Palgeumdo, an island just to the northeast of Anjwado. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4214; NGA 17664.

Amtae District Lighthouse
* Amtaedo (Amtae Do)
1913. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round stucco-clad brick tower, painted white. Lantern removed. A closeup photo is available (second photo on the page), also a second photo (halfway down the page), and Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. This is clearly a historic lighthouse, but we do not know anything of its history. Located at the eastern tip of Amtaedo, the largest island of the Sinan archipelago. Accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4216; NGA 17636.

Jaeun District Lighthouses
Chinso Mal
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. Located on a promontory at the western tip of Jaeundo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4211.5; NGA 17666.
Odo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on an isolated high island about 7 km (4 mi) northwest of Jaeundo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4211; NGA 17644.
Jaeundo (Chaun Do)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. A photo is available, and Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. Located on a promontory at the northeastern tip of Jaeundo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4216.5; NGA 17640.

Northern Haenam County Lighthouses

Note: Lighthouses of southern Haenam County are included on the Wando and Jindo page.
Hwawon District Lighthouses
Sihado
1907. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 12 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. Fog horn (one blast every 35 s). Several additional station buildings. KAAN has a photo (fourth lighthouse pictured), Kiso also has a photo (almost halfway down the page), and Google has a good satellite view of the station. Located on a small island on the southern approach to Mokpo, about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4220; NGA 17616.
Bulmugido (Pulmugi-do)
Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) tapered square white concrete skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Kiso has two photos (about 3/4 the way down the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view. This light has the same design as the Galdu Hang Light in southern Haenam (see the Wando and Jindo page). Located on an island about 13 km (8 mi) west of Mokpo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4216.9; NGA 17621.
* Hwaweon Bando (1)
1908. Inactive since 2003. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one end of a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Kiso has a closeup (first lighthouse on the page), and the lighthouse can be seen to the right of the new lighthouse in a Google satellite view. Located at the northern tip of a peninsula marking the south side of the entrance to the Hwaweon Strait leading to Mokpo. Site appears open, tower closed.
* Hwaweon Bando (2) (Mokpo Waterway)
2003 (station established 1908). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 5 s. 36 m (118 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 2-story administration building with sweeping buttresses. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. A photo is at the top of this page, a 2008 photo is available, Joni Lahey has another distant view, Kiso has a photo showing both lighthouses (first photo on the right), and Google has a good satellite view. Located at the extreme tip of the peninsula, near the historic lighthouse. Site appears open, tower status unknown. Admiralty M4217; NGA 17624.
Hwaweon Bando East
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete keeper's house. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view of the station. Located on a promontory at the southeastern entrance to the Hwaweon Strait, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the Hwaweon bando lighthouses. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4217.7; NGA 17625.
Hwaweon Bando Light
1908 Hwaweon Bando Light, September 2006
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Kussy

Mokpo City Lighthouses

Oedaldo (Oedalto)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the western tip of a small island on the north side of the entrance to the Hwaweon strait. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4217.3; NGA 17622.
Changjwado
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white. Sasha Shepherd has the photo at right, a closeup photo and a more distant view, Kim Bong-sun has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southern tip of an island on the north side of Mokpo harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NGA 17627.
Monghado
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) tower mounted on a concrete base. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the highest point of an island in Mokpo harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4218; NGA 17628.

Northern Sinan (Shinan) County Lighthouses

Jeungdo District Lighthouse
Hwangdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the western end of a small island south of Jeungdo, marking the northern approach to Mokpo, about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4217.5; NGA 17642.
Changjwado Light
Changjwado Light, Mokpo, January 2009
Flickr photo copyright Sasha Shepherd; used by permission

Imja District Lighthouses
Daerorogso (Taerorok To)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and the light is not seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. Located on an island about 8 km (5 mi) west than Imjado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4210; NGA 17712.
Sambongdan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a sharp promontory at the northeastern tip of Imjado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NGA 17714.

Yeonggwang County Lighthouses

* Anma Hang South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. A distant photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Anma-do is a small island about 25 km (15 mi) off the coast of northern Jeollanam. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Anma harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. NGA 17721.
* Anma Hang North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. A distant photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view. NGA lists this tower erroneously as being red. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Anma harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. NGA 17722.
* Gyema (Kyema) Hang Groin (South Breakwater)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted red. A distant photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Kyema, a small port at the northern end of Jeollanam. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4208.2; NGA 17718.
* Gyema (Kyema) Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a very distant satellite view. Located at the end of the west (main) breakwater of Kyema. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4208.21; NGA 17718.1.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Jeollabuk (Gunsan Area) | South: Wando and Jindo

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Posted January 9, 2008. Lighthouses: 45. Checked and revised June 23, 2012. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.