Catching Your Breath in Tongyeong, Town of Sea and Art | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

2009년 조성된 통영생태숲은 전체 50ha 면적에 난대식물산책로, 숲속데크길, 야외숲속교육장, 전망대, 휴게숲 등으로 구성되어 있다. 생태숲은 인평동과 평림동의 경계를 이루는 천암산에 위치해 주민들이 산을 넘나들며 생활하던 곳으로 올해부터 생태 숲 해설 프로그램을 운영하고 있어 예약시 숲해설사의 해설과 함께 생태숲을 탐방할 수 있다.

Seopirang (Western Slope), facing Dongpirang, a village famous for its murals, dreams of becoming the ‘Second Dongpirang.’ Walking Seopirang, you encounter hidden treasures such as ‘The Road to School with Youn Isang,’ ‘Seopirang Literary Village,’ ‘99 Stairs and Music Garden,’ ‘Boiso Ban-gap-sumnida! Greeting Intersection,’ ‘Ddukgijeomdang 98 Stairs,’ and ‘Piano Stairs.’ Along with Dongpirang, Seopirang is one of the representative hillside neighborhoods formed as shantytowns after liberation, once avoided even by locals. While the shantytown naturally improved in the 2000s, the village had lost vitality. However, since 2013, designating a 200m road through the village center as ‘Greeting Street’ sparked revitalization with residents actively installing artworks. The 99 stairs, once a shantytown path, were transformed into an artwork with murals and sculptures, featuring numbers from 1 to 99 depicted neatly or askew on each step, but numbered in reverse from 99 at the bottom to 1 at the top. This reverse numbering symbolizes lightening the burdens of life by removing a number with each step, making the climb easier. The village also runs a storytelling project about historical sites. Lower Seopirang is the birthplace of novelist Park Kyung-ni, author of the epic ‘Toji,’ and the main setting of the novel ‘Kim Yakkuk’s Daughters,’ including Seomun Pass, Ganchanggol, and Myeongjeong Spring, creating a literary village atmosphere. Frequent ‘Park Kyung-ni Literary Village (Seopirang) Alleyway Tours’ attract writers nationwide, transforming Seopirang’s image. Selected by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as a ‘2015 Hope Village Project,’ it features the ‘Youn Isang Road to School’ linked to the world-renowned composer Youn Isang’s elementary school commute and the steepest ‘Seohobyeorakdang’ hill with Piano Stairs. The Piano Stairs use 140 steps to form a treble clef, with 24 steps functioning as real piano keys and an adjoining music garden. From Seoporu at the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Tongjeyeong, Tongyeong’s central port, Gangguan, and Dongpirang across, making Seoporu a renowned photo spot selected by photographers nationwide.

DPIRANG is a media show inspired by Tongyeong's famous mural villages Dongpirang and Seopirang, depicting the story of murals that disappeared from this area coming back to life. It is the longest night digital theme park in Korea, located in Nammangsan Park, featuring a 1.3km paved road and forest trail with various themes. It blends modern elements with beoksu, Tongyeong Harbor, mother-of-pearl, Namhaean Byeolsingut, and Ogwangdae. There are 15 themed walking trails using light and artificial lighting. While preserving the original form of Nammangsan Park, the night scenery is transformed, making it a popular nighttime attraction for many citizens. With fairy tale-like storylines and characters, visitors of all ages can immerse themselves in a childlike world. For those visiting with children, buying a light ball sold at the ticket booth enhances the experience.

Hansando is an island located southeast of Tongyeong City, about 2 km by boat from Tongyeong Port. It is the main island of Hansan-myeon, featuring Bisan-do, Song-do, and Jwa-do to the east and Chubong-do to the south. It is the largest among 29 inhabited and uninhabited islands in the township. During the Imjin War, Admiral Yi Sun-sin achieved the famous Hansan Victory here, annihilating the Japanese forces. It was also the site of Hansan-jin, the first naval base of the Joseon Samdo Navy Command. The island is a sacred site imbued with national pride and patriotism, attracting many tourists who visit the Je-seungdang shrine. The highest peak is Mangsan (293.1m) to the south. The coastline is mostly rocky with rugged and steep cliffs and bizarre rock formations. Hansan Bay lies at the northwest entrance, and Hansan Strait stretches between the island and Mireukdo. It is the starting point of Hallyeohaesang National Park and famous as the site of the historic Hansan Victory, one of the world's renowned naval battles, with cultural heritage including Je-seungdang and Lee Chung-mu-gong Historic Site, built when Admiral Yi moved the Samdo Navy Command to Hansando.

Samdosuguntongjeyeong was established in 1604 and served as the main headquarters (currently the Navy Headquarters) commanding the naval forces of Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong provinces for 292 years until its abolition in 1895. The first Tongjeyeong was Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Hansando camp during the Imjin War, who was the first appointed Tongjesa. The current Samdosuguntongjeyeong located in Tongyeong was founded during the tenure of the 6th Tongjesa, Yi Gyeong-jun. The central building of the Tongjeyeong is Sebyeonggwan (a national treasure), one of the largest wooden structures of the Joseon Dynasty, and it also includes the Tongyeong 12 workshops, which boast the largest scale among local workshops.