//
City in South Jeolla, South Korea
Photo: Bcody80 at English Wikipedia This photo was taken with Canon EOS 350D, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Mokpo (목포시) is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
시화골목길
Tiny old streets on a hill side, with artistic paintings. Be quiet as people live in these small colorful houses. It was made famous by the drama Love and Ambition. At the top is a small resting area. The best place to spend an hour while waiting for your ferry.
갯바위
Big rocks with a strange shape, illuminated at night.
유달산 공원
Yudalsan is well worth a visit for the commanding view from its summit of the bustling city and the many scenic islands. On your walk up, be sure to visit the noon gun, installed during the Japanese occupation, and two beautiful "Buddhist rock carvings". You can also enter with your dog.
갓바위문화타운
Featuring information about famous writers from Mokpo. No English available.
영암국제자동차경주장
The annual Formula 1 race used to be held here every year around October in the years 2010-2013. It has been removed from the F1 calendar due to quality of the venue considered too low, however.
목포평화광장
It is the representative square of Mokpo, and it is a place where you can relax. You can enjoy the sea scenery during the day and the night view of Mokpo in the evening.
국립목포해양대학교
The university comprises two colleges: the Maritime College, which trains merchant marine officers, and the College of Marine Engineering, which cultivates talent specialized in shipbuilding and maritime affairs. It also has a corps that selects officers for the Navy and Marine Corps. Since its founding, many alumni have gone on to work in shipping companies, shipyards, and government agencies specializing in the maritime sector.
고하도
Gohado Island is named after Yudalsan Mountain, Mokpo's highest mountain. Standing as if embracing the Mokpo coastline, the island clusters together and was strategically used by Admiral Yi Sun-sin's navy during the Imjin War to block enemy advances.
삼학도
Three peaks rose from the spot where three cranes fell, giving rise to the current name Samhakdo. It was an island until the late 1960s, when reclamation of the waters off Mokpo transformed it into land. As of 2020, it has been transformed into a lake, offering a beautiful nighttime view.
목포근대역사관 1관
It is a museum dedicated to modern history, located in Yudal-dong, Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. The main building was used as the Japanese Consulate in Mokpo, and the building of the Oriental Development Company’s Mokpo branch is also part of the museum complex. It is well known as a filming location for television dramas. Built in the neoclassical architectural style, the building has preserved much of its original exterior from the time of construction, and it has been designated as Historic Site No. 289 of South Korea.
목포 해양 유물 전시관
This is the Mokpo Maritime Museum operated by the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage. The Institute is the only national organization in Korea dedicated to excavating and researching underwater cultural heritage, as well as exhibiting its findings.
The museum consists of four permanent exhibition halls, one special exhibition hall, an outdoor exhibition area, and a children’s experience center. The outdoor exhibition area displays actual ships and features playgrounds shaped like boats. The children’s experience center provides various facilities where young visitors can see, touch, and enjoy while learning. In addition, the museum regularly offers a variety of educational programs.
목포자연사박물관
The Mokpo Natural History Museum features modern exhibits on the 4.6-billion-year history of the Earth, with displays of dinosaur fossils, minerals, insects, birds, and marine life. It also presents materials representing the history and culture of Korea’s southwestern region.
목포 해상 케이블카
The Mokpo Marine Cable Car serves as a new hub of marine tourism, leisure, and cultural sightseeing, offering a panoramic view of Mokpo’s old downtown—the historic center of Slow City Mokpo—along with North Port, Yudalsan Mountain, and the beautiful scenery of the Dadohae, including Gohado Island. Taking into account the topography and outstanding landscape of Yudalsan, the cable car spans 3.23 km—the longest in Korea—and reaches a height of 155 meters, the highest in the country.
평화광장 해양레저 체험교실
This activity allows you to experience marine leisure sports in the waters off Mokpo Peace Plaza. You can try kayaking, paddleboating, and jet boating. It operates annually from September to October, and you should check the website for detailed schedules. Admission is free, but reservations for activities must be made online.
삼학도 크루즈
You can enjoy the Mokpo coastline aboard a cruise that can accommodate up to 890 passengers. Each cruise lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. It departs from Samhakdo Island and passes 14 locations, including Mokpo Bridge, before returning. The route may change depending on weather conditions.
유달산 꽃 축제
It is a Mokpo's event held around Mt. Yudal. It is held in early April every year. There are various foods and entertainment options.
목포 항구 축제
It is a festival held around October every year at Mokpo Port and Samhakdo Island. In the year 25, it took place from Sept. 26 to Sept. 28. The timing of the festival may vary every year, so please refer to the linked site. The festival allows visitors to enjoy the traditions of Mokpo. You can cook seasonal seafood purchased through an auction on the spot.
목포세계마당페스티벌
It is a festival where artists from eight countries, including Laos and China, participate in overseas guest performances and parties where you can experience free markets, food trucks, and beer.
독천식당
It is a famous octopus dish restaurant for locals. All menus consist of dishes made of whiparm octopus.
낙지전문점 뜰채
You can enjoy whiparm octopus dishes. You can whiparm octopus or eat it raw.
영란횟집
The main menu is dishes related to raw croaker. You can eat croaker sashimi, spicy fish stew, and whiparmoctopus.
선창횟집
Main dish is 'Herring Sashimi Bibimbab'. You can also try 'Silver pomfret' and 'Largehead hairtail' dishes. Recommended using a translator for communication
진동회집
It is a restaurant where you can eat raw fish, spicy fish soup, and sushi.
장터식당
Jangteo Restaurant is famous for its marinated blue crab meat bibimbap and blue crab soup. The dish is even more flavorful when enjoyed with dried seaweed and bean sprouts.
명인집
Myeongin House is known for its braised dishes such as braised hairtail, fresh cod soup, and braised butterfish. Both soy sauce marinated crab and spicy marinated crab are also considered local delicacies. Visitors can enjoy a variety of traditional southern Korean dishes.
Nice western bar run by a guy from California. Offers countless kinds of beers and cocktails. Free popcorn.
대반동 201
It is a cafe where you can drink bread and coffee while looking at the sea and cable cars in Mokpo.
석산
It is a cafe where you can eat bread and coffee. You can also use the second floor.
인헤르또
It is a large cafe that can be used up to the third floor. You can eat various kinds of bread, coffee, and tea.
유달산장
It is a cafe in Mt. Yudal. You can eat bread, coffee, ramen, etc.
목포 노르웨이 게스트 하우스
Clean dormitory with breakfast included. Trendy first floor with WiFi, helpful staff when reception is open. If you arrive late, they can give you the door code.
신안비치호텔
Regarded as Mokpo's top hotel. Rooms are mainly "ondol" floor-heated, or twin.
하당보석사우나찜질방
This jjimjilbang is next to a small park surrounded by buildings near the airport. The jjimjilbang clothing is very comfortable, but the common area is OK. The floor (in July) is hot enough to make you sweat. There are no floor mats, and the head rests are made of wood and uncomfortable. Try sleeping in an area up some stairs with a low ceiling, which has open windows and a cool floor, which is very comfortable. The restaurant is decent. There is a room for sleeping which has outlets for charging phones, but the air is stuffy. There is another jjimjilbang nearby, near Lotte Cinema.
Lotte Premium Outlet Namak branch is the largest shopping space in the region where Lotte Mart, restaurants, kids playground, and pet store are harmonized.
Mokpo Dongmyung Fishery market
You can buy primary food, secondary processing food, furnishing and kitchen materials
목포 자유시장(남진야시장)
You can buy Agricultural product, fishery, livestock product, dried product, factory-made product, restaurant
청호시장
Cheongho Market is one of the local markets in Mokpo, with a variety of shops in operation.
By train
Mokpo is the southwestern terminus of the South Korean rail system. KTX trains depart from Yongsan Station, with some departing from Seoul Station (about 2½ hr).
By boat
There are regular car ferries between Mokpo and Jeju-do, and also to some smaller islands in the southwest. Ferries to Jeju depart from the international ferry terminal twice a day and cost ₩32,300.
By bus
All buses depart from Mokpo Bus Terminal with express services from the Seoul, Incheon, and Suwon as well as intercity buses from various cities in the Seoul metro area and the Jeolla region.
By taxi
By rental car
By Bus
Trunk buses, shown in red, are the main routes from the city center to Namak New Town. The terminus is Oryong Parking Lot.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Muan (Piseo-ri) · International · MWX
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Mokpo and South Korea.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to South Korea travel requirements. Check K-ETA exemptions, application fees, arrival card rules, and Incheon transit procedures.
7 min read
ItinerariesExplore our Busan travel guide. Plan visits to Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Fish Market, and scenic Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.
6 min read
Travel tipsCompare Korea transport cards: T-money, WOWPASS, and Climate Card. Learn costs, subway coverage, reload rules, and which card fits your stay best.
7 min read
ItinerariesDiscover the best places to visit in South Korea, from Seoul royal palaces and Busan coastal seafood stalls to ancient Gyeongju tombs and Jeju Island.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.