Donghae travel guide

Donghae (동해) is a coastal city in Gangwon, South Korea.

Donghae (Photo: Loewelad, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Understand

Donghae is a sizable port on the east coast of Gangwon province in South Korea.

History

Earliest records show that a settlement was built here in 1631 by King Injo of the Joseon dynasty.

In 1980, Mukho-eup, Myeongju-gun, and Bukpyeong-eup, Samcheok-gun, were merged and promoted to the city of Donghae due to their urbanization as a thriving heavy chemical industry, fishing base, and trading port. The name is derived from the nearby East Sea, internationally called the Sea of Japan.

Until the larger Donghae Port was built further south, Mukho Port was the biggest outlet in Korea for coal and cement from the mines inland. The name Mukho means "ink lake"; according to local tradition, an official sent after a tidal wave in the early 19th century chose it because the sea, the water and even the seabirds here looked black.

Orientation

The city grew out of two towns. Mukho (묵호) in the north is the old harbor district, with Mukho Station, the fish market and the ferry terminal for Ulleungdo. Bukpyeong (북평) in the south is home to Donghae Station and the industrial Donghae Port. Between them is Cheongok-dong (천곡동), the modern downtown with city hall and Cheongok Cave.

Most of the sights are in Mukho, packed onto the steep hill above the harbor: Mukho Lighthouse, the mural lanes of Nongoldam-gil and Dojjaebigol Sky Valley are all within about 1 km of Mukho Station. Mangsang Beach is about 5 km further north, and Chuam Beach and its Candle Rock are at the southern end of the city, about 4 km east of Donghae Station.

Get in

By train

KTX high-speed trains from Seoul (Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni) run via Gangneung to Mukho and Donghae stations. Since 2025, the coastal Donghae Line also links the city south to Samcheok, Pohang, Gyeongju and Bujeon Station in Busan, with ITX-Maum trains since Jan 2025 and KTX-Eum high-speed trains since Dec 2025. Slower Mugunghwa trains that cross the mountains on the Yeongdong Line end at Donghae Station.

For the harbor, the lighthouse and the fish market, get off at Mukho. Donghae Station is in Bukpyeong, closer to Chuam Beach.

• Mukho Station (묵호역), 520 Haean-ro (Balhan-dong, about 1 km from Mukho Port). The station for the Mukho harbor area. The Haeparang Trail's course 34 starts here.
• Donghae Station (동해역), 69 Donghaeyeok-gil (Bukpyeong). The end of the line for Mugunghwa trains on the Yeongdong Line, and the station nearest Chuam Beach.

By ferry

Ferries to Ulleungdo leave from Mukho Port, about 1 km from Mukho Station.

• Mukho Port Coastal Passenger Terminal (묵호항연안여객선터미널), 22 Ilchul-ro, ☏ +82 33 531-5891. Seaspovill's Sea Star 1 sails daily at 08:00 to Dodong on Ulleungdo (2 hr 40 min) and returns from Ulleungdo at 12:30. Extra sailings are added on holidays and in summer. Fares include the terminal fee, but a fuel surcharge may be added, and the higher fare applies on weekends, public holidays and peak travel periods. There is only one class of seating. Sailings are often changed or cancelled in rough seas, so call the operator (1577-8665) before you set out. Cars cannot be taken on this route. Parking at the terminal costs ₩7,000 per day. One way: adults ₩65,500 (₩71,900 on weekends and holidays), children aged 1–11 ₩32,750 (₩35,950).

International ferries leave from the Donghae Port International Passenger Terminal (210 Daedong-ro, Songjeong-dong) in Bukpyeong, not from Mukho. As of 2026, Duwon Shipping's Eastern Dream sails once a week to Vladivostok in Russia (Mondays) and once a week to Sakai Minato in Japan (Thursdays). The DBS Cruise Ferry service mentioned in older guides ended in 2020.

Get around

By bus

For visitors who want to go to other places in Donghae City, local buses can be a good way to get around. However, the number of buses that run after 18:00 decreases, so visitors looking to catch a bus should be aware of this.

By taxi

Compared to the bus, it's more comfortable and less time-consuming. The base fee is 3,800 , with a 20% night surcharge from 00:00 to 04:00.

By foot

Donghae's sights are spread across several areas a few kilometers apart, so you will need a bus or taxi to get between Mukho, downtown and Chuam. Mukho itself is compact enough to see on foot: Mukho Lighthouse, Nongoldam-gil, the Haerang Observatory and Kkamak Rock are all within 500 m of Dojjaebigol Sky Valley. From the fish market by the harbor, the four lanes of Nongoldam-gil climb to Mukho Lighthouse, 67 m above the sea, with the Sky Valley just beyond. The lanes are narrow and steep and not suitable for wheelchairs; a road also leads up to the lighthouse, so you can take a taxi up and walk down. From the lighthouse the coast road, Ilchul-ro, runs north past Kkamak Rock to Eodal Port and Eodal Beach, with a bike path along the sea.

See

• Cheongok Natural Cave (천곡 황금박쥐 동굴), 50 Cave-ro, ☏ +82 33-539-3630. 09:00~18:00. This cave is unique as it is located under the city streets of Donghae. The cave is 400 million to 500 million years old, and visitors can sight rare stones that are rich in academic value. Adult ₩ 3,000. Teenage&soldier ₩ 1,500. Child ₩ 1,000.
• Dojjavigol Sea Observatory (도째비골 해랑전망대), 13-48 Mukhojin-dong. 10:00~22:00. Does not open when the weather is bad. Admission free.
• Daejin Beach (대진 해수욕장), 204-7 Daejin-dong.
• Chuam Candle Rock (추암 촛대바위), San 69, Chuam-dong (near Chuam Beach), ☏ +82 33 530 2801. 9:00~18:00 (March~October), 9:00~17:00 (September~February). It is called Candle Rock because the shape of the rock is like a candlestick. Free.
• Nongoldam Road (논골담길), 2 Nongol 1-gil, ☏ +82 33 530 2231. You can see murals on this road. Free.
• Mukho Lighthouse (묵호등대), 289, Sunrise-gil, Mukho Route Sign Management Office, ☏ +82 33 531 3258. 6:00~20:00 (하절기), 7:00~18:00 (동절기). You can see the sea from Mokho Lighthouse.
• Eodal Port (어달항), 230 Ilchul-ro (about 1 km north of Mukho Lighthouse), ☏ +82 33 530-2272. A small fishing harbor, developed from 1984 and home to about 70 boats. You can walk out along the breakwaters to the lighthouses at either end, past tetrapods painted in bright colors. Anglers fish for flounder from the breakwater or on small charter boats, and seafood restaurants line the road behind the port. Free.
• Kkamak Rock (까막바위), 141 Ilchul-ro (300 m north of Mukho Port on the coast road). 24 hours daily. A black rock just offshore, named for the crows (kkamagwi) said to have nested on it; it is also said to lie due east of Namdaemun gate in Seoul. According to local legend, a village headman of the Joseon era was reborn as an octopus to drive off Japanese pirates and still lives in a cave beneath the rock. An octopus statue on the shore marks the story. Free.
• Mukho Byeolbit Village Observatory (묵호 별빛마을전망대), 15-122 Mukhojin-dong (climb the stairs by the Little Prince photo spot on the way from Dongjjok Bada Jungang Market to Nongoldam-gil), ☏ +82 33 530-2570. 24 hours daily. A viewing platform above Mukho Port, built between 2016 and 2021 as part of a project to renew the hillside neighborhood. The houses on the way up have brightly painted roofs and walls, and the platform looks straight down over the harbor.
• Pencil Museum (연필뮤지엄), 183-6 Balhan-ro (5 min walk from Mukho Station), ☏ +82 33 532-1010, pencil_museum@naver.com. 10:00–18:00 (closed Tue Wed). Billed as Korea's first pencil museum. Exhibits show how graphite becomes a pencil, and the collection of more than 3,000 pencils, gathered by the curator in over 100 cities around the world, includes some you can pick up and try. Adults and teenagers ₩7,000, children ₩5,000.

Do

• Mureung Valley (무릉계곡). This is a fantastic valley with several hikes of varying difficulties. You can hike to waterfalls, temples or up mountains. Admission to the valley is ₩1,500 for adults. The valley can be reached by taking any of the city buses numbered 12-something (e.g. 12-4.) The bus fare is ₩1,000.
• Mangsang beach (망상 해수욕장), Mangsang-dong, ☏ +82 33 530 2800. Popular beach area 8 km north of the town. Very crowded in the summer, with a very small amusement park area with a batting cage and a few rides.
• Chuam Beach (추암 해수욕장), Bukpyeong-dong, ☏ +82 33 530 2801. Open only July and August. A less popular but more picturesque beach a few km south of town. Free.
• Donghae Cuttlefish Festival (동해오징어축제). Late September, for three days. People can make special memories by partaking in a wide array of events in the summer ocean. Tourists can participate in contests of catching cuttlefish with bare hands, while local fishermen take part in the cuttlefish cleaning and cooking contests.
• Hansom Beach (한섬 해수욕장), Cheongok-dong. Open only July and August. There is a 2.2km sea path, so you can walk while looking at the sea. There is also a photo zone where you can take pictures in the Hanseom Light Tunnel. Free.
• Yuchunji by Mureung (무릉별 유천지), Igi-ro 97 Ie-ro, 2nd parking lot of Yucheonji by Mureung, ☏ +82 507 1448 0101. 10:00~17:30. You can enjoy sightseeing by riding various experience facilities (Sky Glider, Alpine Coaster, etc.) and trains by Mureung. Adults ₩6,000 (June–September), ₩4000 (October–May) Senior citizens, people with disabilities, and national merit ₩4,000 (June–September) and ₩3,000 (October–May) Children and teenagers ₩3000 (June–September) and ₩2000 (October–May) Infant ₩2000 (June–September), ₩1000 (October–May).
• East Sea's Do-Jebi-gol Sky Cycle (동해도째비골 스카이사이클), 2-109 Mukhojin-dong, ☏ +82 33 534 6955. 10:00~18:00 (Closed on Tue). You can experience cycling from high altitude and returning to the air. ₩15000.

Buy

• E-MART (이마트). The only big chain retailer in town. They offer everything from food to clothes and electronics (think wal-mart). Apart from them, there are a number of shops in the downtown area offering your usual services. English will be limited however and bargaining is not too common in the retail stores.

Eat

Donghae has limited food options but "Soma" is quite good. there are actually 2 locations located about a block away. They offer Korean food with a slight western twist (like pizza ddockboki and pork cutlet with pepper sauce), worth a try. The fast food options are limited to KFC, Dunkin Donuts and Lotteria (the Korean McDonalds). They have good pizza at Buena Pizza (try the bacon cheeseburger). Moreover, there are of course the ubiquitous galbi and kimbab restaurants. However, those hoping for authentic western food may be disappointed.

• Pizza Hut (There are two locations in Donghae).
  , 845 Cheongok-dong.
• , Cheongok-ro, 42-1.
• Donghae Bakery (동해 제빵소), 126-1, Hansom-ro, ☏ +82 507 1346 2966. 8:00~22:00. It is one of the famous bakeries in the area.
• Ottogi Restaurant, 10-1, Ilchul-ro, ☏ +82 33-532-3868. Spicy noodle soup and dumpling soup are typical dishes, and visitors can experience what the locals eat.
• Hosan Bakery, 117, Daedong-ro, ☏ +82 033-521-5525. Breads like glutinous rice doughnuts and twisted bread stick are a favorite and relatively inexpensive.
• Cafe Hyunsangso (카페 현상소), 20 Nobongan-gil, Mangsang-dong. It has an antique look with a European vibe and outdoor tables to enjoy the natural scenery. And almost everywhere is a photo spot.

Drink

Most of the options here are Hof and Soju bars that are all pretty much the same - they offer beer by the truckload (₩2,500 for 500ml) and soju. Many of them will expect you to order food as well since this is Korean tradition. Just politely say "no thanks" and most will leave you with you beer. Those looking for cocktails have to go to a cocktail bar and these are priced very highly. Your best bet is to head to E-Mart and get a few bottles of cheap booze if you want liquor.

Sleep

Winter in Donghae (Photo: 콩가루, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Love Motels. As with everywhere else in South Korea, there are love motels abound and Donghae is no exception. Don't be fooled by the name however, some of them can be seedy, however some can be quite special with huge beds and themed kitsch. Try the hotel "very six". A room with a pool table can be had for ₩90,000. Most rooms go for ₩50,000 a night (more on weekends).
• Jjimjilbang (찜질방). Donghae has a few of these as well. You can sleep in them for ₩6,000 a night (give or take). However it's a communal experience and those looking for privacy won't find it here. For those that are willing to try a more authentic Korean experience, they are clean, safe and really cheap. The one close to the very six hotel is the best in town (near E-MART)
• Beach Camping. You can set up tents in the designated camping area at Mangsang Beach, which is 8km North of Donghae City. Camping is free.

Go next

• Take a ferry from Mukho Harbor to the island of Ulleungdo.

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