Lighthouses of South Korea: Yeosu South

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 is one of three pages covering lighthouses of the municipal city of Yeosu, a major port in southeastern Jeollanam (South Jeolla) province. Yeosu is located in the central part of Korea's south coast. The city occupies the Yeosu peninsula and includes several hundred islands of all sizes, 49 of them inhabited. This page lists lighthouses of Dolsan Town and Nam (South) Township, occupying a series of islands stretching south of the peninsula into the Korea Strait.

Navigational aids in the ROK are regulated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The lights on this page are maintained by the Yeosu Regional Oceans and Fisheries Administration.

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.

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

General Sources
World of Lighthouses - South Korea
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Online List of Lights - Korea - South Coast
Coming soon: photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.


Daedan Light, Dolsan, November 2021
Google Maps photo by Hyokwan Ahn

Dolsan Town Lighthouses

Dolsando is an island about 15 km (9 mi) long and 10 km (6 mi) wide, located southeast of the Yeosu peninsula. The Dolsan Bridge connects the island to downtown Yeosu. Dolsan Town includes Dolsando and some smaller nearby islands.

East Coast Lighthouses
Uam
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft: two white flashes every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a shoal about 1.6 km (1 mi) off the northeast coast of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2318; Admiralty M4309.4; NGA 17108.
Dolsan (Dolsando, Tolsan, Yeosu Hang)
Date unknown (station established 1944). Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. A photo and a second photo are available and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high hill on the southeast side of the Yeosu harbor entrance. Site status unknown. KR-2467; Admiralty M4309; NGA 17104.
Daedan (Taedan, "Big End Lighthouse")
2001. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. Hyokwan Ahn has the 2021 closeup seen at the top of this page, Lee Kwang-ho also has a 2021 photo, a 2023 photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory on the northeast coast of Dolsando, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of the Dolsan lighthouse. Site status unknown. . KR-2467.5; Admiralty M4308.98; NGA 17101.
Bamseom (Pam-som)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round steel tower painted black with one yellow horizontal band. N. Pham's 2023 photo is at right, another photo is available (lighthouse on the right), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal off the southeast coast of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2467.6; Admiralty M4308.97; NGA 17100.5.
 

Bamseom Light, Dolsan, October 2023
Google Maps photo by N. Pham
 

South Coast Lighthouses
* Jakgeum Hang
2002. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with three decorative ribs, painted red. Yeosu MOF posted a photo, another photo and a third photo are available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the east breakwater sheltering small boat harbors at the southern end of Dolsando. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. KR-2470.2; Admiralty M4308.45; NGA 17161.
Geumseong (Kumsong)
1986. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted red. A photo (first photo on the page) and a sunset photo are available and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the south coast of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2470; Admiralty M4308.5; NGA 17160.
Gunnae
2018. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located in the approach to Dolsan Hang from Geomodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2469.12; Admiralty M4308.54.
Dolson Hang West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round steel tower with lantern and gallery painted white. Chandler Lee has the 2021 photo at right and Google has a satellite view. Located on a short breakwater recently built at Dolson Hang. Site status unknown but it should be easy to see the light from the shore. KR-2469.11; Admiralty M4308.57.
Hajeungdo (Hajungdo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. Dongsik Kim has a distant view and Google has a satellite view. Located off the southwestern tip of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2471; Admiralty M4308.55; NGA 17165.

Dolson Hang West Breakwater Light, Dolsan, November 2021
YGoogle Maps photo by Chandler Lee

South Township Lighthouses

Hwataedo Area Lighthouses
Hwataedo is one of the numerous small islands east of Gaedo, north of Geumodo and off the southern tip of the large island of Dolsando.

Hwataedo Northwest
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted yellow with one black horizontal band. Park Mu-hee has a 2023 photo, a distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. NGA lists the light as "Tolsan-do Approaches." Located off the northwestern tip of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2489.2; Admiralty M4307.25 NGA 17153.
Hwataedo
1997. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); six quick flashes followed by one long white flash every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, upper half painted yellow and lower half black. Jooyoung Lee's 2021 photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. NGA describes the lighthouse as green and showing a green flash every 6 s; the daymark and light characteristic were changed in 2018. Choi Daeun has a 2016 street view of the lighthouse painted green. The lighthouse is located just off the east end of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2489; Admiralty M4307.1; NGA 17154.
Wolho
2000. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted green. A photo is available and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the south side of Hwataedo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2489.5; Admiralty M4307.2.
 

Hwataedo Light, South Township, December 2021
Google Maps photo by Jooyoung Lee
 
Daehoenggando (Taehonggan Do) (2)
Date unknown (station established 1965). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, painted yellow with one black horizontal band. Kim Cheol Bong's 2015 photo of what is presumably the newer light is at right and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. This light guides vessels in the Hoenggan Sudo, the narrow strait leading to Yeoja Bay. Located at the end of an underwater reef off the northwestern tip of Hoenggando, about 2 km (1.25 mi) south of Dolsando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2469; Admiralty M4308.4; NGA 17156.
Sohoenggando
1989. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. Yeosu MOF posted a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southwestern end of an island south of Daehoenggando and off the northeastern tip of Geumodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2490; Admiralty M4307.8; NGA 17075.

Geumodo Area Lighthouses

Geumodo is an island south of Dolsando and north of Yeondo. The island is about 8 km (5 mi) long from northwest to southeast and about 3 km (1.8 mi) wide. The island is accessible by ferry.

Hamgumi
2000. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the northwestern tip of Geumodo. Site status unknown. KR-2483.7; Admiralty M4307.05; NGA 17226.

Sohoenggando Light, Sohoenggando, November 2015
Google Maps photo by Kim Cheol Bong
Baedaseo
2007. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal about 5 km (3 mi) east of Geumodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2488.1; Admiralty M4307.78.
Huseo (Huso)
1998. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a red horizontal band. Kim Cheol Bong has a 2015 photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the central east coast of Geumodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2488; Admiralty M4307.75; NGA 17074.5.
Soyu
1989. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a yellow horizontal band. Kim Cheol Bong has a 2015 photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal just off the central east coast of Geumodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2487; Admiralty M4307.7; NGA 17074.
Ando (Baekeum, Baekkum, Paekkum)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Ando (An Do) is a smaller island off the southeastern end of Geumodo. Located at the northeastern tip of Ando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2472; Admiralty M4307.5; NGA 17072.
Ando Hang East Breakwater
1994. Inactive since 2020. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. Kim Nam Su has a photo showing both breakwater lights, both are seen in a 2021 photo by Seung Ki Lee, and Google has a satellite view. The lights were deactivated after a new bridge was built linking Ando to the neighboring island of Daemudo. Located on the east breakwater of Ando harbor, near the southwestern end of the island. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ex-KR-2484; ex-Admiralty M4307.4; NGA 17069.
Ando Hang West Breakwater (2)
1994. Inactive since 2020. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. J.S. Choo's 2024 closeup photo is at right, Kim Nam Su has a photo showing both breakwater lights, both are seen in a 2021 photo by Seung Ki Lee, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the west breakwater of Ando harbor, which is attached to a smaller island sheltering the harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ex-KR-2485; ex-Admiralty M4307.45; NGA 17069.1.

Huseo Light, Geumodo, January 2024
Google Maps photo by J.S. Choo
Iljonggot (Geumodo Hang)
2008. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); nine quick white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted yellow with a black horizontal band. Lee Yong-soo has a very distant view and Google has a satellite view. Located just off the southwestern tip of Geumodo, at the south side of the entrance to the bay leading to Geumodo harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2483.1; Admiralty M4307.28; NGA 17073.
Wolpo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); nine quick white flashes ever 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) robust steel post with gallery rising from a round concrete base. A closeup photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. Located off a steep headland at the entrance to a bay leading to the village of Uhak on the south coast of Geumodo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2493.2; Admiralty M4307.27; NGA 17073.1.

Yeondo (Sorido) Area Lighthouses
Yeondo, formerly called Sorido, is a rugged island about 5.5 km (3.5 mi) long, located at the end of an archipelago extending southward into the Korea Strait from the end of the Yeosu peninsula. The island is accessible by high-speed ferry from Yeosu.

Gumong-Am (Kumong-Am)
1986. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with gallery. No photo available but Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Yeondo and 2 km (1.25 mi) south southwest of Ando. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2483; Admiralty M4307.3; NGA 17068.

Wolpo Light, Geumodo, November 2015
Google Maps photo by soesdi
Singangseo (Suri Do, Shingangso, Shinganseo)
1992. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); quick-flashing white light. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef just off the northern tip of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2486; Admiralty M4308.1; NGA 17069.5.
Jakdo (Chakdo)
2003. Active; focal plane 117 m (384 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) square steel skeletal tower. Jeongjo Min has a video with a view from the sea and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small but high island about 10 km (6 mi) east of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. KR-2493.1; Admiralty M4308.15; NGA 17063.
Ganyeo-Am
1986. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white flash every 6 s, 11 m (36 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available and the rock is onky a fuzzy spot in Google's satellite view. Located on an isolated rock in the Korea Strait about 13 km (8 mi) south of Yeondo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2493; Admiralty M4308.2; NGA 17080.
Sorido (Sori Do, Yeondo)
1910. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 12 s. 9 m (30 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Several additional 1-story station buildings. Fog siren (one blast every 54 s). Lee Dong Gun's 2022 photo is at right, a 2020 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Accessible by a hiking trail about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) long. Located on a sharp promontory at the southeastern tip of Yeondo. Site status unknown. ARLHS SKR-028; KR-2386; Admiralty M4308; NGA 17064.
Yeondo Breakwater South (2)
2010. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); yellow flash every 5 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted yellow. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The light was formerly about 175 m (190 yd) to the southwest of the breakwater. Located at the south end of the detached breakwater of Yeondo port, at the western side of the island. Site open, tower closed. KR-2494.7; Admiralty M4308.03; NGA 17067.
Yeondo Breakwater North (2)
2010. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 5 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted red. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The light was formerly just off the north end of the breakwater. Located at the north end of the detached breakwater of Yeondo port. Site open, tower closed. KR-2494.8; Admiralty M4308.04; NGA 17067.1.

Sorido Light, Yeondo, August 2022
Google Maps photo by Lee Dong Gun
Jeolliseo (Sorido West Side)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted green. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef on the north side of the entrance to Yeondo port. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. KR-2495; Admiralty M4308.05; NGA 17066.
 

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Yeosu | South: Jeju | West: Goheung Area

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Posted January 9, 2008. Lighthouses: 31. Checked and revised June 5, 2025. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.