Lighthouses of South Korea: Incheon Area

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 South Korea's northwest coast, including the province of Gyeonggi and the metropolitan city of Incheon (Inchon). This coast faces 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 deungdae; 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
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.
Port of Incheon - Light Lists
Separate lists for manned lighthouses, unmanned lighthouses, and lighted beacons.

Palmido Light
Old and new Palmido Lights, Incheon Harbor
Port of Incheon photo

Southern Ongjin County Lighthouses

Note: Ongjin County includes the islands to the southwest and northwest of Incheon. The islands to the southwest are organized into three townships: Deokjeok, Jawol, and Yeongheung.
Deokjeok Lighthouses
Uldo (Ul To)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 231 m (758 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower mounted on a round concrete base. A closeup photo and a second photo are available, and the Degree Confluence Project has a photo of the island, but the lighthouse is not visible in Google's distant satellite view. Uldo is one of the outermost of the Incheon Bay islands, about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Incheon. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4155; NGA 17892.
Uldo North
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 24 m (79 ft) tower, painted black with one red (?) horizontal band. A black-and-white photo is available. The "red" band is more likely to be yellow. Located on a rock off the northern tip of Uldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4155.1; NGA 17858.
* Uldo Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. A photo of the two brealwater lights (halfway down the page), also a second photo (1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Uldo harbor, on the north side of the island. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4155.2.
Uldo Hang East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. A photo of the two brealwater lights (halfway down the page), also a second photo (1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on the detached east breakwater of Uldo harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4155.3.
Uduam (Udu-am)
2001. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a rock about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Uldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4149.3; NGA 17895.
Jido South
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); six quick white flashes followed by one long white flash every 15 s. 20 m (66 ft) round concrete tower, upper half painted yellow, lower half black. A photo (last photo on the page) is believed to show this light, but Google's satellite view does not show it. Located on a reef about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Jido, an island north of Uldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4155.35.
Janganseo (Changanso)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 21 m (69 ft) round concrete tower, painted with black and red horizontal bands. No photo available. Located on an isolated rocky islet about 8 km (5 mi) north of the entrance to Daesan Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4157; NGA 17896.
Mineotan (Minotan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available, and Google's satellite view does not show the tower. Located on an isolated rock about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Baegado. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4150; NGA 17920.
Gakheuldo (Kakhul Do) (2)
2010. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band, mounted on a round concrete pier. A closeup photo is available, but Google's satellite view does not show the tower. This light replaced an earlier light that was on land, and it's not known if that light was demolished. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) off the south point of Gakheuldo, a small island about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4155.5; NGA 17924(?).
South Deokjeokdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); three green flashes every 7 s. 10 m (66 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located about 200 m (220 yd) offshore near the southernmost point of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4149.15.
South Seopori (Tokchok Putni South)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13m (43 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) round tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. The port authority has a small photo. Located on a shoal a short distance off the southwestern point of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NGA 18049.
Gamjeungtan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted with black and red horizontal bands. No photo available, and the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located about 3 km (2 mi) off the south coast of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4149.25.
Seonmido (Sunmido, Sonmi Do) (2)
2003 (station established 1934). Active; focal plane 172 m (564 ft); white flash every 12 s. 19.5 m (64 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story concrete staff building. Lighthouse painted white. Additional keeper's houses and other light station buildings. A photo is at right, the Port of Incheon has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a distant satellite view. Light lists describe the tower height as 9.5 m (31 ft), but this refers to the original lighthouse, which was demolished. This lighthouse is the landfall light for Incheon, the largest port of Korea's west coast. Located at the western tip of Sunmido, an island off the northwestern corner of the much larger island of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4148; NGA 18040.
Ungam (Dohang Sudo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. Charley Shin has a 2010 photo, a 2009 photo and another photo (first photo on the page) are available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. NGA describes the tower as black with a red horizontal band. Located off the southwestern tip of Deokjeokdo, marking the entrance to a narrow inlet between that island and the neighboring island of Soyado. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4149.1; NGA 18051.
Soyari
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. A photo (second photo on the page) is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located off a promontory on the south side of the inlet between Soyado and Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4149.4; NGA 18050.
Sunmido Light
Sunmido Light; Port of Incheon photo
Soyado
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Located on the southeastern tip of Soyado. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4168.5; NGA 18052.

Jawol Lighthouses
Dongbaekdo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. A distant view is available, but the islet is a faint blur in Google's satellite view. Located atop a small island off the northwestern end of Ijakdo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4168.
Ijakdo (Ijak To)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 4 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. Shim Jaehee has a closeup photo, another photo is available (halfway down the page), and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the northwestern tip of Ijakdo, an island about 7 km (4.5 mi) east southeast of Deokjeokdo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4170; NGA 18060.
Gwangyeo (Kwangyo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available. Located on an islet about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Budo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4170.4; NGA 18062.
Haejeonseo (Haejonso)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a reef about 1 km (0.6 mi) north of the southern islands of Jawol township. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4170.2; NGA 18063.
Muktongdo (Moktongdo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round white concrete tower. A photo is available (second photo on the page), but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island just off the west end of Jawoldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4169; NGA 18064.
Wolamdu (Wolamdo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round tower, painted red. A photo, a copy of the same photo, and a small photo are available, but the islet is barely visible in Google's satellite view. This light and the next one frame a passage southeast of the island of Jawoldo. Located on a reef about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Jawoldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4163.5; NGA 18063.5.
Hangseo (Chawoldo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three green flashes every 7 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower, painted green. No photo available. Located on a reef about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the Wolamdo light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4163.7; NGA 18063.7.
Chochiam (Chociam)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round tower, painted black with a red horizontal band. Located on a reef about 7 km (4.5 mi) northwest of Chawoldo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4169.7; NGA 18069.

Yeongheung Lighthouses
Mudangseo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band, mounted on a round concrete pier. A photo is available, but the reef is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on a reef in the northern approach to Pyeongtaek. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4158.2; NGA 17940.
Budo (Bu Do)
1904. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); white flash every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a keeper's house. 3rd (?) order Fresnel lens in use. Lighthouse painted white. 2-story red brick administration and coast guard building. Fog horn (one blast every 40 s). KAAN's photo is at right, another photo is available, and Google has a good satellite view. The original lantern is displayed outside the National Lighthouse Museum in Homigot (see the Pohang Area page). Located on a small island at the eastern end of the Deokjeok chain. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4158; NGA 17932.
Budo East
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); six quick white flashes followed by one long white flash every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower, upper half painted yellow, lower half black. A distant photo (last photo on the page) is available, but the lighthouse is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a reef about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) east of Budo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4158.1.
Tongseo (Tongso)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Bu Do. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4163; NGA 17934.
Baegam (Paek Am)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted green. No photo available, and the location is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on a rock off the southwestern tip of Yongjeon-do. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4164; NGA 17944.
Seosudo (Seo Sudo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 6 s. 17 m (56 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery mounted on a circular platform supported by three piles. Lighthouse painted red. A photo is available. Located on a shoal at the south end of the Yongyu-do group. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4165; NGA 17954.
Namjangja-so
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round tower with gallery, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 8 km (5 mi) east southeast of the Seo Sudo lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4164.5; NGA 17956.5.
Bukjangjaseo (Pukjangja-so)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 9 km (4.5 mi) east of the Seo Sudo lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4166; NGA 17956.

Incheon City Lighthouses

Yongyu and Palmido Lighthouses
Haerido
2005. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 m); white flash every 4 s. 18 m (56 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Access to the tower is by a stairway that spirals once around the base of the tower. A small photo and two views from the sea are available, but the lighthouse is too new to appear in Google's satellite view. Located on the south point of Haerido, a small island off the south end of Yongyu island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4167.4.
Baedongcho (Paedangcha)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 12.5 m (41 ft) round tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal about 1 km (0.6 mi) off the southeastern point of Yongyu island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4167.3; NGA 17961.
* Palmido (1)
1903. Inactive since about 2006. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Fog horn (one blast every 30 s). KAAN's photo is at the top of this page, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view (the old tower is centered in this view, just below and to the right of the new lighthouse). This was Korea's first lighthouse, built when Japan pressured the Korean monarchy into opening its ports to trade. Located at the highest point of a small island about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of the Incheon waterfront. Accessible only by boat; ferry service is available. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS SKR-021.
* Palmido (2)
About 2006 (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); four white flashes every 40 s. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop a striking vase-shaped concrete and marble building described as "High-Tech Lighthouse and Exhibition Center." Lighthouse painted white; the lantern dome is gray metallic. Fog horn (one blast every 30 s). A 2009 photo is available, Markellos Mpakoulis has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Located northwest and downslope from the historic lighthouse. Accessible only by boat; ferry service is available. Site open, tower status unknown. Admiralty M4167; NGA 17960.

Incheon Waterfront Lighthouses
Incheon (Sangyong) East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 5 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round tapered concrete tower with a small lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is red. A photo is available (more than halfway down the page), Jong Nam Park has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater, about 500 m (0.3 mi) southwest of the Sowolmido lighthouse (next entry). Site status unknown. Admiralty M4173.3; NGA 17965.5.
Sowolmido (Incheon South Breakwater Elbow)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo (halfway down the page), a second photo (1/4 the way down the page), and a distant view are available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the elbow (bend) of the Solwolmido south breakwater. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. Admiralty M4173.4; NGA 17967.
Incheon South Breakwater Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); three red flashes every 7 s. 9 m (30 ft) round tapered concrete tower, painted red. No closeup photo available; Tommy Lee has two distant views (1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater, about 600 m (0.38 mi) north of the Sowolmido lighthouse. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4173.5; NGA 17967.5.
Incheon North Breakwater Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); three green flashes every 7 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white. No closeup photo available; Tommy Lee has two distant views (2/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4173.52; NGA 17968.
Incheon Lock Gate South
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a square concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is red. A photo and a second photo of both lock gate lighthouses are available, Tommy Lee has two distant views (2/3 the way down the page), and Google has an indistinct satellite view. NGA lists an octagonal tower. Located at the end of a short breakwater north of the lock entrance to Incheon's inner harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4173.6; NGA 17968.5.
Incheon Lock Gate North (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); three green flashes every 7 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a square concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, a photo and a second photo of both lock gate lighthouses are available, a distant view is available, and there's a photo of the lighthouse silhouetted against the sunset, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Another photo shows the lighthouse floodlit in green. NGA lists an octagonal tower. Located at the end of a short breakwater north of the lock entrance to Incheon's inner harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4173.8; NGA 17969.
Sodu Am
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 4 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower munted on a round 1-story concrete base. Entire lighthouse painted red. A distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a dangerous rock just off the Incheon waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4174; NGA 17992.
** Jagyakdo (Chagyak-To)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal white concrete skeletal tower with observation room and gallery. A closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Jagyakdo is an island just off the Incheon waterfront, north of Sodu Am. Located at the eastern end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower probably open. Admiralty M4176; NGA 17972.
Sowilmido Lock Gate North Breakwater Light
Incheon Lock Gate North Light, April 2010
photo copyright 咿哥; used by permission

Ganghwa County Lighthouses

Ganghwado Lighthouses
Chojiri
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted green. A photo (not quite halfway down the page) and a second photo (3/4 the way down the page) are available, and Google has a satellite view. Ganghwado is a large island north of Incheon and adjacent to the armistice line separating North and South Korea. Located on a shoal on the west side of the channel separating Ganghwado from the mainland, about 600 m (0.4 mi) north of the southern bridge to the island. Accessible only by boat, but easy to see from shore. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4181.
Changhuri (Songmodo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 6 s. 19 m (62 ft) round tower, painted red. A closeup photo (1/4 the way down the page), a second photo (also 1/4 the way down the page), and a distant view are available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a rock in the channel on the west side of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4146.6; NGA 18076.5.
Gajinyeo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located in the channel between Ganghwado and Seokmodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4147.
Jakeunguduldol
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted green. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located in the channel between Ganghwado and Seokmodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4146.7.
Eoyujeong Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); three white flashes every 7 s. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with lantern and gallery; the lantern roof is green. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the south point of Seokmodo Island, marking the southern entrance to the 3 km (1.8 mi) wide channel between Ganghwado and Seokmodo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4146.55.
Achado
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 6 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is green. A photo and a distant view (halfway down the page) are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located off the north side of Achado island, about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Seokmodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4146.53.
Seoyeo (Soiyo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a reef about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of Ganghwado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4146.5; NGA 18077.

Western Ongjin County Lighthouses

Note: These islands lie well to the west of Incheon and closer to the coast of North Korea than to the rest of South Korea. They were held by Allied forces during the Korean War and remained under South Korean control following the armistice agreement. The Yeonpyeong islands lie off the south coast of North Korea's Hwanghae province. The Daecheong and Baengnyeong islands lie farther west, off the southwestern tip of North Korea.
Yeonpyeong Lighthouses
Sindo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, and the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Sindo is a small island in the Yellow Sea about 45 km (28 mi) west of Incheon. Located on the highest point of the island. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4146; NGA 18076.
* Soyeonpyeong (Soyonpyong)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower. Several photos and a closeup photo (1/3 the way down the page) are available, and Google has a satellite view. Soyeonpyeong is an island about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) in diameter, located in the Yellow Sea about 40 km (25 mi) south of Haeju and 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Yeonpyeong. The islands are accessible by ferry from Incheon. Located on the southeastern point of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4145; NGA 18080.
Nounseo (Nounso)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round stone or concrete tower, painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a shoal about 2 km (1.25 mi) south of the Soyonpyong lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. NGA 18083.
Yeonpyeong (Yonpang) East Breakwater (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal red concrete tower. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Yeonpyeong is a triangular island about 4 km (2.5 mi) in diameter lying north of Soyeonpyeong. The island appears to be the site of a South Korean naval base. Located at the end of the east (main) breakwater of Yeonpyeong. Possibly accessible by walking the pier. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4137.4; NGA 18088.
Yeonpyeong (Yonpang) South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. A closeup (halfway down the page) is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south breakwater of the port on the southeast side of the island. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M4137.2; NGA 18087.
* Yeonpyeongdo
1960. Inactive since 1973. 10 m (33 ft) 2-stage square concrete tower rising for a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo, a fine closeup, and another closeup (3/4 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south point of the island. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty F4137.

Daecheong Lighthouse
** Socheongdo (Sochungdo, Sochong Do) (2)
Date unknown (station established 1908). Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); four white flashes every 40 s. 18 m (59 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story staff building and visitor center. Lighthouse painted white. Fog siren (one blast every 45 s). A very distant view from the sea is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the station. KAAN has a distant photo (first lighthouse pictured on the page) of what appears to be the original lighthouse, which is still described by NGA as a 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower. The lighthouse is described as housing a "marine culture hall." Socheongdo is a narrow island about 5 km (3 mi) long lying in the Yellow Sea at the extreme western point of South Korean sovereignty, about 30 km (20 mi) southwest of the North Korean mainland. The island is accessible by ferry from Incheon and tours are available. Located at the southwestern end of the island. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS SKR-047; Admiralty M4136; NGA 18104.
Socheongdo Light
Socheongdo Light; Ongjin County Tourist Bureau photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: North Korea | South: Dangjin and Pyeongtaek

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Posted February 4, 2008. Checked and revised July 31, 2011. Lighthouses: 58. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.