Gangwon Province

Mukho Lighthouse Marine Cultural Park: How to Walk the 1963 Lighthouse and Nongoldam-gil Together

Mukho Lighthouse Marine Cultural Park is a tourist destination in the Mukho area of Donghae where you can explore Mukho Lighthouse, built in 1963, Nongoldam-gil, and Mukho Port together. Since operating hours vary between guides, check the time slots in advance and be prepared to climb stairs and spiral staircases.

By the KOTourLive Editorial Team Updated: Sep 14, 2026 18 min 169

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Mukho Lighthouse, built in 1963 at an elevation of 67 m

Mukho Lighthouse was built near Mukho Port on June 8, 1963. It was constructed to help ships navigate safely, and because it stands at an elevation of 67 m, it was designed to be easily identified from the sea.

The lighthouse’s present appearance reflects both its function for vessels entering and leaving the port and its remaining tourist viewing area. In October 2003, a large rotating beacon with a prism lens was developed using domestic technology, and its light is said to be identifiable from 42 km away.

묵호등대와 동해 바다가 함께 보이는 모습입니다. — A view of Mukho Lighthouse with the East Sea visible behind it. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

You can reach the observation level, but the actual operating facilities are closed

A Korea Tourism Organization travel article introduces Mukho Lighthouse as a place open up to the observation level. However, an April 2025 visitor review records that the facilities operating the actual lighthouse cannot be entered, so it is safest to understand that visitors are limited to the observation area.

There are stairs leading up to the observation area, and an August 2024 review said that the spiral staircase takes considerably longer to climb than expected. No official information confirming wheelchair or stroller accessibility was found, so travelers who have difficulty using stairs should inquire before visiting.

Published hours of 09:00–18:00 differ from seasonal operating hours

The operating hours listed on a public tourism information page are 09:00–18:00. A Korea Tourism Organization travel article introducing the same location lists 06:00–20:00 from April to October and 07:00–18:00 from November to March, so the seasonal hours differ.

An August 2024 visitor review records the hours as 09:00–18:00 every day. Since no closing day was confirmed in the official information, if you plan to visit the observation level early in the morning or in the evening, it is best to contact the Mukho Port Aids to Navigation Management Office at 033-531-3258 first.

Reviews describe free admission, but the latest fee schedule is not published

An April 2025 visitor review introduces admission to Mukho Lighthouse as free. However, the latest official fee schedule could not be confirmed, so treat the free-admission information as applying to that review and check on site whether any separate facility fees apply.

No confirmed information was found regarding photography restrictions, whether only cash is accepted, or whether English information and audio guides are available. An April 2025 review says there are many benches in the park around the lighthouse, so you can plan to rest in the park after viewing the scenery.

A route using bus 12-6 from Donghae Intercity and Express Bus Terminal

Travelers arriving in Donghae for the first time can use Donghae Intercity and Express Bus Terminal as their starting point. The listed route is to take Donghae city bus 12-6 from the terminal, get off at Sambon Apartment, and then walk for 10 minutes to Mukho Lighthouse.

Bus 12-6 is listed as operating three times a day, so the intervals are relatively long. If the bus schedule does not fit, it is difficult to follow the same route; therefore, check the departure times before leaving the terminal and plan for the 10-minute walk after getting off at Sambon Apartment.

Driving directions up to 289 Haemaji-gil

The address is 289 Haemaji-gil, Donghae-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mukhojin-dong). By car, the listed route is to enter the Donghae Expressway from the Yeongdong Expressway, travel for about 10 minutes from the entrance to Donghae-si toward Mukho Port on National Route 7, and then head to Mukho Lighthouse.

The location of the official parking lot, parking availability, and parking fees could not be confirmed. Rather than assuming that parking will definitely be available, it is safer to enter the address into your navigation system and follow the on-site parking instructions.

묵호등대 주변 관광 동선을 보여주는 이미지입니다. — An image showing the sightseeing route around Mukho Lighthouse. — Photo source: xn--ok0b236bp0a.com

Four lanes from Deungdaeoreum-gil to Nongol 3-gil

Around Mukho Lighthouse are a small park for tourists and local residents and the Nongoldam-gil mural village. Nongoldam-gil is divided into four lanes—Deungdaeoreum-gil, Nongol 1-gil, Nongol 2-gil, and Nongol 3-gil—and all four lead to Mukho Lighthouse.

The lanes feature murals and small decorative items, and Donghae City introduces local interpreters who have lived in the area for many years and explain the history and anecdotes of Nongoldam-gil. Rather than visiting Mukho Lighthouse directly, walking up through Nongoldam-gil lets you understand both the traces of harbor life and the lighthouse’s location.

논골담길의 벽화 골목과 묵호등대로 이어지는 길입니다. — A mural alley on Nongoldam-gil and the road leading to Mukho Lighthouse. — Photo source: xn--ok0b236bp0a.com

The Mukho area linking Mukho Port and Nongoldam-gil

Donghae City’s tourism website introduces Mukho Lighthouse, Nongoldam-gil, and Mukho Port together as attractions in the Mukho area. A small park harmonizing with nature has been created around the lighthouse, and visitors are told that forsythias bloom in spring, so the scenery along the lanes changes with the seasons.

An April 2025 review also says that there are many cafés and guesthouses below the hill of Mukho Lighthouse facing the East Sea. However, specific café hours and reservation information could not be confirmed, so a practical plan is to schedule the lighthouse and Nongoldam-gil first and choose meals and cafés on site.

A full-day route continuing to Dojjaebigol Sky Valley

Dojjaebigol Sky Valley is a tourist destination with observation and activity facilities developed in Dojjaebigol between Mukho Lighthouse and Wolso Residential Area. Donghae City explains that “Dojjaebi” is a dialectal form of “dokkaebi,” or goblin, and that the name Dojjaebigol comes from an oral tradition in which people thought the blue light seen on dark, rainy nights was a goblin fire.

Donghae City’s one-day Course 1 is presented in the following order: Mangsang Beach, Nongoldam-gil, Dojjaebigol Sky Valley, Eodal Raw Fish Restaurant Street, Cheongok Golden Bat Cave, and Chuam Suspension Bridge. It is also stated that the average travel time from Chuam Beach through Mukho Port to Mangsang Beach is about two hours, making Mukho Lighthouse easy to combine with a meal at Mukho Port or a visit to Dojjaebigol.

Allow about two hours and divide your time between the stairs and the views

Reviews mention spending about two hours exploring Mukho Lighthouse and its surroundings. This time can include the lighthouse observation level, the small park, and the mural alleys of Nongoldam-gil, but keep in mind the report that climbing the spiral staircase may take longer than expected.

There are photo spots with the sea and Mukho Port as a backdrop, as well as rest areas and benches around the lighthouse. After examining the function of the large beacon developed with domestic technology in 2003, you can descend to Nongoldam-gil or continue to Dojjaebigol Sky Valley; this order best reveals the layout of the area.

Items to confirm by phone before visiting

The contact point is the Mukho Port Aids to Navigation Management Office, and the telephone number is 033-531-3258. Since the operating hours differ between the public tourism information page, which lists 09:00–18:00, and the Korea Tourism Organization travel article, which lists 06:00–20:00 from April to October and 07:00–18:00 from November to March, you can call this number to confirm whether the observation level is open and what the operating hours are on the day.

The site is registered as an attraction eligible for cultural tourism interpreter reservations, so you can reserve an interpretation of Nongoldam-gil and Mukho Lighthouse. Official tourism information is provided on Donghae City’s tourism website at https://www.dh.go.kr/tour/index.do, but it does not provide one consolidated guide covering the address, stair access, bus frequency, and parking availability, so prepare each item according to your purpose for visiting.

Before You Go

Address: 289 Haemaji-gil, Donghae-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mukhojin-dong)
Hours: Public tourism information page: 09:00–18:00. Korea Tourism Organization travel article: 06:00–20:00 from April to October / 07:00–18:00 from November to March.
Admission: Some reviews describe admission as free, but the latest official fee schedule could not be confirmed.
Phone: 033-531-3258
Official site: https://www.dh.go.kr/tour/index.do
Transport: Take Donghae city bus 12-6 from Donghae Intercity and Express Bus Terminal, get off at Sambon Apartment, and walk for 10 minutes. Bus 12-6 operates three times a day. By car: Yeongdong Expressway → Donghae Expressway → entrance to Donghae-si → toward Mukho Port on National Route 7 (about 10 minutes).
Time needed: Reviews mention approximately two hours.
Accessibility: Reviews indicate that stairs and a spiral staircase are required, with reports that the spiral staircase takes a relatively long time to climb.

The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.

Mukho Lighthouse Nongoldam-gil Donghae travel Mukho Port Dochebigol Sky Valley mural village

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