Lighthouses of South Korea: Namhae

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; 대한민국, Daehan Minguk in Korean), commonly called South Korea, occupies the Korean peninsula south of the armistice line.

The name Korea, used internationally, is a Western version of Goryeo or Koryŏ (고려), the name of a kingdom that unified the country in the tenth century. From 1392 to 1897 the kingdom was known instead as Joseon or Chosŏn (조선). Today South Koreans usually call their country Hanguk (한국, literally "one country") and the official name of the Republic of Korea is Daehan Minguk (대한민국).

South Korea is divided into eight provinces and nine province-level cities. This page covers lighthouses of Namhae County in southwestern Gyeongsangnam (South Gyeongsang) province on South Korea's south coast. Namhae County includes the major islands of Namhae and Changseon and many smaller islands just offshore from the mainland city of Sacheon.

Navigational aids in the ROK are regulated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Lights of Namhae County are maintained by the Yeosu Regional Maritime Affairs and Port Office in neighboring Jeollanam (South Jeolla) province.

In 2000 South Korea adopted a Revised Romanization System to replace systems formerly used in the West. In the Revised System, the word for a lighthouse is deungdae (등대); dan (formerly tan) is a cape, seom (som) or do (to) is an island, am or amseog is a rock, man is a bay, and hang is a harbor. Some place names may be more familiar to Westerners in the spellings of older systems.

Special thanks to Kim Cheol Bong for permission to post copies of his photos.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. KR numbers, where available, are from the Korean light list. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Korea
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for the Namhae area.


Dangjeo Hang Light, Namhae, January 2014
photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission

Changseon Township Lighthouses
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 (Jeongnyang) Hang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. The lighthouse is red with narrow white horizontal bands. Kim Cheol Bong's photo is at right, Kang-lyeol Lee has an aerial view, and 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. KR-2296.5; Admiralty M4321.13; NGA 17001.
Janggot (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.
* Dangjeo Hang Breakwater
2009. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square concrete skeletal tower surrounded by an elaborate red daymark. Kim Cheol Bong's photo is at the top of this page and 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. KR-2299.7; Admiralty M4321.66.
Gongsinyeo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower painted black with one red horizontal band. A distant view is available, Kang-lyeol Lee has a distant drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in Jinju Bay off Daebyeok, a village on the northwestern coast of Changseongdo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2299.1; Admiralty M4317.6.

Chongnyang Hang Light, Namhae, December 2014
photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission

Namhae Town Lighthouse
* Seonso Hang
2009. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square concrete skeletal tower surrounded by an elaborate red daymark. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Sibling of the Dangjeo Hang light (see above). Located at the end of a new breakwater pier at the village of Seonso, on the northeast coast of Namhaedo. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-2299.8; Admiralty M4321.67.

Samdong Township (Namhaedo East Coast) Lighthouse
Jeungcho
2010. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef on the south side of the channel between Changseongdo and Namhaedo opposite Dangjeo Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2296.4; Admiralty M4321.655.
Gijok (Jijok)
1965. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical red concrete tower mounted on a round concrete pier. Choi Seok-hong has a 2017 photo (also seen at right), another photo is avilable, Kim Cheol Bong has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located just east of the south end of the bridge connecting Changseongdo to Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2296.6; Admiralty M4321.6; NGA 17036.
Donghangseo
2010. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef on the south side of the channel between Changseongdo and Namhaedo about halfway between Dangjeo Hang and Jang Got. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2296.3; Admiralty M4321.64.

Jijok Light, Namhaedo, March 2017
ex-Google Plus photo by Choi Seok-hong
* 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 Cheol Bong has a photo, Kang-lyeol Lee has an aerial view 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. KR-2270; 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. Kang-lyeol Lee has an aerial view, Kim Cheol Bong has a view showing both breakwater lighthouses, 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. KR-2271; 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. Kim Cheol Bong's photo of both breakwater lights is at right, Kim Jung Soo also has a photo of the two lights, 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. KR-2271.2; 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. Kim Cheol Bong's photo of both breakwater lights is at right, Kim Jung Soo also has a photo of the two lights, 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. KR-2271.1; Admiralty M4321.493.
Eunjeom Hang Breakwater Lights
Eunjeom Hang Breakwater Lights, Namhaedo, February 2012
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission

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. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Namhaedo. 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 at right, a 2023 view and another view e available, but the lighthouse is hard to distinguish in Google's too-bright satellite view. Located on a small island about 40 km (25 mi) south of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. KR-2311; Admiralty M4308.3; NGA 17084.

Mijo Township (Namhaedo Southeast Peninsula) Lighthouses
* Hangdo Hang
2018. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. Ellie Choi has a photo, a drone view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at a small harbor about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4321.9.
 
Mijo Hang North Harbor South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) post rising from a round 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Mijo, at the southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-2243; Admiralty M4322; NGA 17032.
Sejondo Light
Sejondo Light, Korea Strait, August 2010
ex-Panoramio photo copyright 알렉스; permission requested
Mijo Hang North Harbor Main Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 11 m (36 ft); green light, pattern unknown. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Mijo, at the southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Probably accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-2244.1; Admiralty M4321.92.
Godo (Jodo, Mijo-gundo)
1999. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); six quick white flashe followed by one long white flash evey 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, centered on a round concrete base. Upper half of the lighthouse painted yellow, lowrer half black. The lighthouse was red in Kim Cheol Bong's 2014 photo seen at right. Google's satellite view shows the new colors. Located on a rock off the extreme southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. KR-2241.7; Admiralty M4322.35; NGA 17090.
* 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. Kim Geun-ok has a distant photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Mijo, at the southeastern tip of Namhaedo. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. KR-2244; Admiralty M4322.3; NGA 17028.
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. Kim Cheol Bong has a closeup photo and 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. KR-2242; Admiralty M4322.2; NGA 17024.
Badakyeo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available but Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located in a bay about 3 km (1.8 mi) west of Mijo South Harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2244.3; Admiralty M4322.1.

Godo Light, Mijo, January 2014
Google Maps photo by Kim Cheol Bong

Sang Township (Namhaedo South Coast) Lighthouses
Baekseo
1969. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available but Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Mijo Hang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. KR-2312; Admiralty M4308.9; NGA 17092.
Daedo (Sochido) (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. A Yeosu Port Office photo is at right and 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. KR-2313; Admiralty M4308.8; NGA 17100.
Geumsan (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 Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located atop a high promontory on the south coast of Namhaedo. Site status unknown. Admiralty M4308.94; NGA 17096.

Idong Township Lighthouse
Aenggang (Haseo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 12.5 m (41 ft) round concrete tower painted black with one red horizontal band. Cho Yong-cheol has a very distant view and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located in Aenggang Bay, a deep inlet in the south coast of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2313.1; Admiralty M4308.96.
Daedo Light
Daedo Light, 2007
ex-Yeosu Maritime Affairs and Port Office photo

Nam (South) Township (Namhaedo Southwest Peninsula) Lighthouses
Pyeongsan (P'yongsan) (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). KR-2319; Admiralty M4310.2; NGA 17112.
* Deokwol Hang South Breakwater
2019. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with enclosed upper section. Entire lighthouse is red. Andrew Jung's photo shows both breakwater lighthouses, a 2022 photo also shows both lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south breakwater of Deokwol, a village north of the Pyongsan promontory. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-2306.1; Admiralty M4310.18.
* Deokwol Hang North Breakwater
2019. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) square cylindrical metal tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Andrew Jung's photo shows both breakwater lighthouses, a 2022 photo also shows both lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north breakwater of Deokwol. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-2306.2; Admiralty M4310.15.

Seo (West) Township (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. No photo available but Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located about 1.6 km (1 mi) off the central west coast of Namhaedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2329; Admiralty M4310.6; NGA 17124.
Sangtan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) round white concrete tower. A 2018 photo is at right, a 2020 photo and another photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the westernmost point of Namhaedo, opposite Gwangyang harbor. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. KR-2335; Admiralty M4310.7; NGA 17144.

Sangtan Light, October 2018
Google Maps photo by 쿠키파파
Umoseo (Umo So, Woomoseo)
1989. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) concrete tower with double gallery and an unusual design, mounted on a large round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. The Yeosu Port Office photo is at right and 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. KR-2309; Admiralty M4311; NGA 17056.

Gohyeon Township Lighthouse
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. No photo available but Google has a distant 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.

Seolcheon Township (Namhaedo North Coast) Lighthouses
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. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and 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. KR-2305; Admiralty M4311.78; NGA 17047.
Wagi (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. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and 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. KR-2306; Admiralty M4311.6; NGA 17048.
Daewado (Wado)
1991. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. Kim Cheol Bong has a photo and 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. KR-2304; Admiralty M4311.8; NGA 17046.

Umoseo Light, undated
ex-Yeosu Maritime Affairs and Port Office photo
* Okdong
1989. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) robust round white concrete tower. Kyuho Hwang has a 2017 photo, Google has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. 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. Accessible by road (parking provided). Site open, tower closed. KR-2301; Admiralty M4314; NGA 17044.

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Sacheon | East: Goseong Bay | West: Yeosu

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Posted December 4, 2007. Checked and revised February 3, 2024. Lighthouses: 36. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.