View from Mt. Geumsan

Namhae is an island in South Gyeongsang, Korea.

Understand

Namhae county (남해도) is a group of islands which lie off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The largest of these is Namhae island which is connected to Hadong on the mainland by Namhae Bridge which was opened in 1973. Modelled on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it is 660 m long and 80 m high.

The second largest island is Changsoen which is connected to the mainland by the Changsoen-Samchoenpo Bridge which was opened on April 28 2003. The bridge is really a series of 5 bridges spanning 3.4 km, stretching from Changsoen island then connecting 3 small islands - Neukdo, Choyang and Mogae - before reaching the mainland at Samchoenpo.

There are over 70 small uninhabited islands within the county boundary with the majority of the 50,000 population living on the two main islands. It is largely a farming community, growing rice and garlic (for which it is famous throughout Korea) and it has a small fishing industry. It is also a popular holiday destination for Koreans who descend upon the beaches and mountain trails in July and August.

Get in

By car

The Namhae Expressway runs east to west along the southern coast which connects to the main artery routes throughout the country.

By bus

Intercity buses connect Namhae to most of Korea's major cities. Several buses depart from Busan throughout the day, the trip lasting approximately 2.5 hours.

Get around

Getting around by taxi is not always the cheapest option, but sometimes it is the only option. You can flag down a taxi within the city of Namhae, or call a taxi from other parts of the island.

See

• 1 Boriam Temple. Boriam Temple is located near the top of Geum Mountain, the tallest mountain on Namhae. It boasts great views of the island, including Sangju beach and the ocean beyond. Wander around on the numerous hiking trails surrounding the temple. ₩1,000 admission. (updated Oct 2022)
• Sangju Beach. This huge beach is great for relaxing in soft, white sand or swimming in ocean water warmed by the sun. It will be quite busy on a hot summer day, but not overly crowded. The adjacent Sangju village offers most necessary amenities. 
• 2 Namhae Bridge. You will most likely cross this bridge when traveling to the island. The red, suspension bridge is beautiful in itself, but also offers great view of the surrounding landscape.  

Do

• Namhae Kayak, Dumo Village, ☏ +82 10-9856-1244. Rent a kayak and explore Namhae's rugged coast by sea. Julio speaks fluent English and will happily accommodate you. Several kayaks are available for the afternoon, whole day, or even overnight. The sea kayaks are nice and perform well in the ocean water. Inquire for details. 

Sleep

• Camping. Camping is available at several locations on Namhae island. Confirmed locations include Dumo village by the water and Sangju Beach.