Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전) - Area information - Korea travel information

Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전)

Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전)

15.6 Km    20817     2022-12-14

136, Haemaji-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-54-289-7852~8

Homigot Village, the main venue of the Homigot Sunrise Festival, is located on the easternmost point of the Korean Peninsula. Homigot Village means "a village on a tiger’s tail," in reference to the Korean peninsula looking like a tiger.

The festival includes local cultural performances, a New Year celebratory event, fireworks show, sunrise concert and other diverse performances. Visitors may sample free tteokguk, a traditional New Year’s Day dish. Other events such as kite-flying and launching hope balloons with wishes attached will provide enjoyable moments to reflect on the previous year and create new year resolutions.

Homigot Octopus Festival (호미곶 돌문어 수산물 축제)

Homigot Octopus Festival (호미곶 돌문어 수산물 축제)

15.6 Km    4557     2024-04-17

136 Haemaji-ro, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-284-0575

The Homigot Octopus Festival is an annual festival held to celebrate the octopus harvested from the rocky coastal area around Homigot Peninsula. The octopus here are known for their chewy texture and high-quality taste. During the festival, visitors can enjoy freshly caught octopus from the East Sea, as well as take pictures in a vast field of canola flowers that bloom near the coast. Additional programs and experiences related to octopus are planned for the enjoyment of all.

Gyeongju Yangdong Village [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주 양동마을 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

Gyeongju Yangdong Village [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주 양동마을 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

15.8 Km    87901     2022-11-08

134 , Yangdongmaeul-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-762-2630

Gyeongju Yangdong Village is Korea’s largest traditional village, showcasing the traditional culture of the Joseon dynasty and the beautiful natural surroundings. Thanks to its many cultural heritages, including treasures, national treasures, and folklore materials, the entire village has been designated as a cultural heritage site. Many people have visited this village to see its wealth of cultural heritages and scenic surroundings, including King Charles III, who visited this village in 1993.

Seolchangsan Mountain and its four spines of mountains can be seen beyond the village. Approximately 160 old houses and 500-year-old thatched-roof cottages are nestled within the valley. Fifty-four of these homes are over 200 years old and have been excellently preserved in their original state, offering the opportunity to view a variety of unique traditional Korean houses in person.

Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장)

15.8 Km    49402     2023-01-02

20, Haemaji-ro 150beon-gil, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-270-5855

Homigot is located at the easternmost end of the Korean peninsula, in what would be considered to be the tail, if thinking of the Korean peninsula as a tiger. When Kim Jeongho made the Daedongyeojido Map, he visited this place seven times to confirm this area is in fact the easternmost part of Korea. Following the resources of Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the sunrise time of Homigot on January 1 is at 7:32 am, making it the earliest first sunrise of each year in Korea. The plaza was built to commemorate these research findings with the national Sunrise Festival. Nearby attractions include Korea's largest lighthouse, Homigot Lighthouse, established in 1908; Lighthouse Museum; Monument to Commemorate Lee Yuk-sa’s Patriotism; and Daebo Seawater Bath, using pure seawater of the East Sea.

When completed, Homigot Tourism Complex and Homigot Specialized Ocean Leisure Complex will be the largest tourism complex in the eastern coast district. It will include an ocean aquarium, Ocean Ecological Park, Youth Training facilities, beach dome, accommodation facilities, and other various stores as well.

Sangsaeng’s Hand, a two-part bronze sculpture shaped like a pair of hands, was constructed in December 1999. It is a signature symbol of the sunrise festival. The left hand is on the land and the right hand is in the ocean. It was built to give the message that all people are living together by helping one another like Sangsaeng, meaning coexistence in Korean. The base of the platform is an image of the sun and its two round rings refer to harmony. These two hands have memorial sprits of reconciliation and coexistence for celebrating a new millennium.

Homigot Lighthouse (호미곶 등대)

Homigot Lighthouse (호미곶 등대)

15.8 Km    25235     2021-02-18

20, Haemaji-ro 150beon-gil, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-284-9814

Homigot Lighthouse is located at Homigot Cape, listed as one of the 10 most scenic sites during the Joseon dynasty. It was the tallest lighthouse in Korea at the time of its opening on December 20, 1908. The octagonal, six-story building is 26.4 meters high, with a base circumference of 24 meters. It was built using red bricks and no reinforcing rods, designed in the 18th century renaissance style, with gable decorations over the entrance and windows. The ceiling on each floor is sculpted in the shape of pear blossoms, a symbol of the Joseon royalty, while the number of stairs totals to 108, reflective of Buddhist culture.

Oeosa Temple (오어사(포항))

17.9 Km    38520     2023-01-25

1 , Oeo-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-292-2083

Oeosa Temple in Unjesan Mountain is a place where the deep scent of Buddha can be felt with a lake that looks like a dragon wrapped around it and the strangely-shaped cliffs which harmonizes like an oriental painting. Oeosa Temple is a sacred place where the four great patriarchs of Silla were born. This temple was built during the reign of King Jinpyeong (579-632), the 26th ruler of Silla. It was originally called Hangsasa Temple, but when Great Master Wonhyo and Zen Master Hyegong practiced religious asceticism here, a contest was held to revive the fish in the stream with religious power. However, one of them did not survive, and the other did and swam vigorously.
So each argued that he himself saved the fish, so they called it Oeosa Temple by writing the characters 'O' and 'Eo.' Daeungjeon Hall has a hip-and-gable roof with three bays in the front and two in the side. It was rebuilt in the 17th year of King Yeongjo of the Joseon dynasty (1741). Around the temple, the beautiful natural scenery of Unjesan Mountain and the blue water of Oeoji are spectacular. Jajangam Hermitage can be seen on the rocky cliff, and Wonhyoam Hermitage can be seen to the west of Oeosa Temple. Daeungjeon Hall (Gyeongbuk cultural heritage) has a national treasure bell, Buddhist monk Wonhyo's hat, and many other relics.

Guryongpo Fifth-Day Market (구룡포장 (3, 8일))

Guryongpo Fifth-Day Market (구룡포장 (3, 8일))

18.0 Km    14337     2021-06-01

72-1, Guryongpo-gil, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-276-2761

Guryongpo Market area expands all the way to Changjucheon Stream area every fifth-day market day, bustling with crowds of merchants and customers. Guryongpo Fifth-Day Market is held on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 23rd, and 28th of every month. The market first started when a small village was formed around Guryongpo Port. In the 1950s and '60s, when Guryongpo was incorporated into the county of Yeongil, Guryongpo Market flourished because it became the main market of Yeongil.

Nowadays, thanks to the rows of seafood restaurants inside, the market became even more popular among seafood lovers. The market carries a wide variety of fresh vegetables and produce, herbs, grains, and regional specialties. The seafood at the market is delivered fresh from Guryongpo Port. The squid at Guryongpo Port, which is also the specialty of the market, makes up about 70% of the total catch in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The market is also frequently visited by seafood gourmets for its squid.

Jeil Guksu Gongjang (제일국수공장)

Jeil Guksu Gongjang (제일국수공장)

18.0 Km    0     2024-02-21

19-2 Homi-ro 221beon-gil, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Jeil Guksu Gongjang is a noodle factory in Guryongpo Market. It is the only place in Korea where noodles are dried by the sea breeze. It produces somyeon (thin noodles), jungmyeon (medium thick noodles), and kalguksumyeon (wide thick noodles), selling them in bundles or boxes. Near Guryongpo Beach, you can try a variety of noodle dishes at Haepungguksu 1st Branch, which is operated directly by the factory. Nearby attractions include the sunrise spot Homigot Cape, Guryongpo Port, and Guryongpo Modern History Museum. 

Guryongpo Modern History Museum (구룡포 근대문화역사관)

Guryongpo Modern History Museum (구룡포 근대문화역사관)

18.2 Km    15     2024-02-13

153-1 Guryongpo-gil, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Guryongpo Modern History Museum, situated on Guryongpo Japanese House Street, is housed in a two-story wooden building constructed in the Japanese style. Built by Jenkichi Hashimoto in the 1920s, this historic structure was acquired by Pohang-si in 2010 and subsequently transformed into a history museum following extensive restoration. The museum features two exhibition floors, showcasing traditional Japanese furniture and accessories such as butsudan and kotatsu. Additionally, a traditional kitchen and toilet have been meticulously recreated. Visitors can gain a vivid understanding of the lifestyle during that era and explore the distinctive structural elements of Japanese-style buildings.

Guryongpo Port (구룡포항)

18.2 Km    1     2023-01-25

222-1 , Homi-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-270-5977

Guryongpo Port, located on the way from Pohang Homigot to Gampo, is a place that took the shape of a port when a pier and a breakwater were built in 1923 during the Japanese colonial period. Currently, it has facilities of about 600 meters of the northern breakwater, 400 meters of the southern breakwater, and 600 meters of a wharf and has a loading capacity of 334,000 tons.
Guryongpo Modern Culture and History Street is nearby, where you can see traditional Japanese houses. Guryongpo Market is also nearby, so you can enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the local market and delicious food. Many places are selling half-dried saury, a local specialty, and it is known as the nation's largest producer of snow crabs, so you can enjoy good quality half-dried saury and fresh snow crabs.