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), 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 nine provinces and eight province-level cities. This page covers lighthouses in the city of Tongyeong in southwestern Gyeongsangnam (South Gyeongsang) province on South Korea's south coast. Tongyeong (formerly called Chungmu) is a seaport at the end of the blunt Goseong Peninsula, separated from the island of Geojedo to the east by the island-strewn waters of Goeje Bay and from the island of Namhaedo to the west by the island-strewn waters of Goseong Bay. Tongyeong administers many islands south of the urban area and extending into the Korea Strait. This broad area includes close to 100 lighthouses. There is a page for lighthouses of the Hansan township to the southeast and the Goseong Bay page includes lighthouses of the Saryang and Yokjim townships to the southwest. Navigational aids in the ROK are regulated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Management of lighthouses in Tongyeong is the responsibility of the Masan Regional Maritime Affairs and Port Office. The Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration (KHOA) publishes notices to mariners. 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. Special thanks to Kim Cheol Bong for permission to present his photos on this page. 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 List numbers are from Publication 112.
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Eastern Goseong County Lighthouse
Northern Tongyeong Lighthouses
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![]() Yepo Hang Light, Gwangdo, November 2024 Google Maps photo by iyuyu |
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![]() Gyeonyu Hang East Breakwater Light, Yongnam, April 2021 Google Maps photo by Dong Kim |
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![]() Pyeongnim East (left) and West Breakwater Lights, Tongyeong, June 2021 Google Maps photo by Do Jae-bok |
Mireuk Island and Southern Islands Lighthouses
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![]() Yultongyeongunha Light, Tongyeong, April 2018 ex-Google Plus photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission |
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![]() Donam Hang East Breakwater ("Pencil") Light, April 2018 ex-Google Plus photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission |
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Information available on lost lighthouses: Notable faux lighthouses: |
Adjoining pages: Northeast: Changwon | East: Geoje | Southeast: Hansan | West: Goseong Bay
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Posted December 4, 2007. Checked and revised May 1, 2025. Lighthouses: 45. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.