Mokpo Voyage Tips and guide

Mokpo (목포시) is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula.

At the very southwestern corner of the Korean peninsular, Mokpo is a large port city with some claim to fame from hosting the Korean Formula 1 circuit. It is located in the southwest end of Jeollanam-do. As of 2020, the population was 227,178, accounting for 12.1% of the total population of Jeollanam-do, the second largest after Yeosu-si and Suncheon-si.

Mokpo is served by Muan International Airport (MWX ^IATA). Flights operate domestically from Jeju island, and internationally from Taiwan, Guam, and various cities in China and Southeast Asia. Bus 1000 and an intercity bus route connect the airport to Mokpo.

Most international travellers will enter the country via Incheon International Airport (ICN ^IATA). Airport buses from ICN to Mokpo take about 4½ hours for ₩40,400. A faster alternative is to take the KTX from Gwangmyeong Station. Airport page for more information.

Alternatively Gwangju airport has regular flights from Seoul Gimpo and Jeju. Intercity buses from Gwangju Songjeong Bus Terminal to Mokpo.

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). You can also take a KTX from Gwangmyeong Station. The SRT also serves Mokpo from Suseo.

There is one train per day from Busan (Bujeon Station) but it takes over 6 hours; taking the KTX from Busan Station to Osong and transferring to another bound for Mokpo is a much better option.

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.

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. From Seoul it is about a four-hour ride.

There is also a flag stop at Namak but it may be difficult to use for travellers who don't speak Korean.

34°47′24″N 126°22′59″E

Map of Mokpo

There is a city bus in Mokpo, but I recommend using a rental car or taxi to get to the destination you want quickly. If you prepare a translator, you can communicate more easily.

• NiceCall, ☏ 1577-3800NOCC, 1544-3844NOCC. 
• MokpoCall, ☏ 82-61-285-7777NOCC. 
• SingwangCall, ☏ 82-61-278-3003NOCC. 
• Mokpo Model Call, ☏ 82-61-281-8282NOCC. 
• Mokpo Private Mihang Call, ☏ 82-61-283-8282NOCC. 

• Seonu Rent Car, ☏ 82-621-277-7799NOCC. 
• Dream Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-272-2229NOCC. 
• Bada Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-284-0031NOCC. 
• Asan Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-278-4953NOCC. 
• MK Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-243-0051NOCC. 
• Noblesse Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-278-7789NOCC. 
• Hi Rent Car, ☏ 82-61-283-0001NOCC. 

• 34.782304126.377791 Sihwa (시화골목길). Tiny old streets on a hill side, with artistic paintings. Be quiet as people actually 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. Free.  
• 34.791914126.42572 Gatbawi (갯바위). Big rocks with a strange shape, illuminated at night. Free.  
• 34.793637126.373663 Yudalsan Park (유달산 공원), 506-58 Jukgyo-dong. 00:00-24:00 (Everyday). 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.  There is a cable car that runs from Bukhang (North Port) to the peak of the mountain, and then across the sea to another island. Longest cable car in Korea.
• 34.7936126.3884 Gatbawi Literature Hall (갓바위문화타운). Featuring information about famous writers from Mokpo. No English available. ₩2,000. (updated Sep 2025)
• 34.738603126.4151025 Korean International Grand Prix Circuit (영암국제자동차경주장), 2 Efwon-ro, Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, ☏ +82 61-288-4207. 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.  
• 34.796324126.4330146 Mokpo Peace Plaza (목포평화광장), 82 Pyeonghwa-ro, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do. 00:00-24:00. 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.  

• 34.79664126.3718871 Yudalsan Flower Festival (유달산 꽃 축제). It is a Mokpo's event held around Mt. Yudal. It is held in early April every year. (updated Oct 2019)

• 34.788094126.3899362 Mokpo Harbor Festival (목포 항구 축제). Held in Mokpo, where marine cultures from all over the country are concentrated, the festival allows visitors to enjoy the traditions of Mokpo. You can cook seasonal seafood purchased through an auction on the spot. (updated Sep 2025)

• 34.792926126.3776973 Mokpo World Madang Festival (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. (updated Sep 2025)

• 34.803869126.4651051 Lotte Premium Outlets Namak Branch, 80 Namak-ro 162beon-gil, Samhyang-eup, Muan-gun. 10:30-21:00. Lotte Premium Outlet Namak branch is the largest shopping space in the region where Lotte Mart, restaurants, kids playground, and pet store are harmonized. (updated Sep 2025)

• 34.788015126.3905372NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Mokpo Central Market (Mokpo Dongmyung Fishery market), 34, 121-gil, Yeongsan-ro, ☏ 061-244-1555NOCC. 00:00~24:000. You can buy primary food, secondary processing food, furnishing and kitchen materials (updated Sep 2025)

• Mokpo is famous for its raw ray fish. There are a lot of sushi restaurants in Mokpo. Sushi sold in Mokpo is generally cheaper than in other regions.

• One of representative product of Mokpo is Whiparm Octopus. It is called 'Nakji' in Korean. The Whiparm octopus is small in size, so it can be rolled up with wooden chopsticks or boiled octopus soup.
• 34.794029126.3857671 Dokcheon Restaurant, 3-1, 64beon-gil, Honam-ro, ☏ 82-61-244-8622NOCC. 10:30~21:00. It is a famous octopus dish restaurant for locals. All menus consist of dishes made of octopus. ₩15,000-55,000. (updated Sep 2025)

• Moe's Bar and Grille, Rose Street (upstairs from Eleven AM Cafe). 20:00-02:00. Nice western bar run by a guy from California. Offers countless kinds of beers and cocktails. Free popcorn. ₩2,500-10,000. 

• 34.793285126.3852291 Norway Guesthouse (from the train station, walk straight two blocks, then turn right and walk 200 m until you see a green building with a Norwegian flag). 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. ₩22,000.  
• 34.785626126.368772 Shinan Beach Hotel (신안비치호텔), Coastal Road 2, Yudal-dong, ☏ +82 61 243 3399. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Regarded as Mokpo's top hotel. Rooms are mainly "ondol" floor-heated, or twin. ₩100,000, 50% discount during off-peak season.  
• 34.80353126.4274683 Hadang Boseok Sauna Jjimjilbang (하당보석사우나찜질방), 1000-4 Sang-dong (as you walk north from Lotte Cinema, you can see the sign on the left, behind other buildings, from the main street), ☏ +82 61-281-8102. Check-in: anytime, check-out: anytime. 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. ₩12,000/night.  

To access Wi-Fi at major tourist attractions in Mokpo, you can select "Mokpo FREE WiFi" in the wireless Internet settings.

In Yeongsan-ro, there is a Mokpo Central Post Office that has jurisdiction over Mokpo City. Korea's postal insignia is orange and white, and can be found on post office signs. Most post offices sell boxes and packaging.

• 34.804881126.3976761 Mokpo Central Post Office (목포우체국), 288, Yeongsan-ro, ☏ 061-270-6215NOCC. M-F 09:00-18:00.  

To continue on to the islands to the south by bus, visitors must depart from the intercity bus terminal. A ticket on a coach bus to the island of Jindo costs ₩6,000 and the trip takes just over an hour. This bus runs every 30-45 minutes from 06:15 - 20:30.

You may also want to consider a trip from the city's passenger ferry terminal, from which boats run to a dozen nearby islands, many of which are part of a marine national park. Heungdae (about ₩40,000 round trip) and Hongdo (about ₩75,000 round trip) are particularly beautiful.

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