Homigot and Dokdo Lighthouses Silently Guarding the East Sea... Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization Introduces 7 Beautiful Lighthouses

The Nation’s Only Hanok-Style ‘Songdaemal Lighthouse’
Wangdolcho Unmanned Lighthouse, Guardian of the Hidden Reefs

On July 2, Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization published the July issue of ‘Gyeongbuk Travel MVTI,’ introducing the lighthouses of Gyeongbuk that hold both the romance of the summer sea and a long history, under the theme ‘Following the Light, Where Summer Rests.’

This July issue highlights seven beautiful lighthouses in Gyeongbuk, each of which has silently illuminated the East Sea, safeguarding departures and awaiting homecomings, as well as a museum dedicated to lighthouses.

Homigot Lighthouse

In Pohang, ‘Homigot Lighthouse’ is a traditional lighthouse built entirely of red bricks without any steel reinforcement, standing 26.4 meters tall since its first light in 1908. Boasting 18th-century Renaissance-style architecture, it was designated as a World Lighthouse Heritage Site in 2022. For over a century, it has unwaveringly shone over the East Sea. Right next to it, the National Lighthouse Museum provides an overview of the history of lighthouses, the principles of navigational aids, and the lives of lighthouse keepers who have protected the sea.

In Gyeongju, the thousand-year-old city of Silla, ‘Songdaemal Lighthouse’ is the only lighthouse in the country built in the traditional hanok style, with the blue East Sea spreading out beneath its tiled roof. ‘Cheoksahang North Breakwater Lighthouse,’ quietly illuminating the waters off Gampo, was inspired by the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (the Emille Bell) and reborn with its motif.

In Uljin, ‘Jukbyeon Lighthouse’ has steadfastly guarded the passage between Ulleungdo and Dokdo from the same spot for more than three generations. The ‘Wangdolcho Unmanned Lighthouse,’ which quietly guides ships through treacherous waters, marks the legendary submerged rock formation hidden beneath the sea, which is twice the size of Yeouido.

Perched atop a cliff in Seomyeon, Ulleung County, ‘Ulleungdo Lighthouse’ is the first manned lighthouse in the county. The breathtaking view features Daepunggamm, Hyangmok Observatory, and Elephant Rock. ‘Dokdo Lighthouse,’ located in the heart of the East Sea at Korea’s easternmost point, may appear as nothing but a small light from afar, yet it stands firm, shining over our sea from the farthest reaches for the longest time.

‘Gyeongbuk Travel MVTI’ stands for Monthly Visit Theme Item. This monthly project analyzes trends and resources from Gyeongbuk and, through strategic ideas, reconstructs them into creative and emotional content each month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.