How to Experience Live Fish Auctions and the South and North Harbors at Mijo Port in Namhae

Route 19 terminus, Mijo Port at the southeastern tip of Namhae Island

Mijo Port is a harbor located at 232 Mijo-ro, Mijo-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, at the southeastern tip of Namhae Island. It sits at the terminus of National Route 19, and because of its terrain surrounded by mountains, the harbor appears to curve inward.

The port is managed as a national fishing port and is introduced as both a fishing-industry outpost and a harbor with beautiful scenery. In the waters offshore are the inhabited islands of Jodo and Hodo, along with 16 smaller islands, earning it the nickname “the Venice of the southern coast.”

A name meaning “the village helped by Maitreya” and traces of a naval port

The name “Mijo” is explained as meaning “the village helped by Maitreya.” The port’s present appearance is the result of the area’s character, which developed around fishing, together with its terrain divided into South Harbor and North Harbor.

Mijo Port also played an important role as a naval port in the past. The pile of stones offshore in front of the village hall is said to be a breakwater used as a defensive structure by naval forces fighting Japanese pirates during the Imjin War, showing that the harbor was connected not only with fishing but also with maritime defense.

The live-fish auction at South Harbor starts at 7:00 a.m.

To watch the live-fish auction, go to the Namhae-gun Suhyup Fish Market in front of the breakwater at the end of South Harbor. The auction starts at 7:00 a.m. in summer and 7:30 a.m. in winter, continuing for about 30 minutes to one hour depending on the volume of goods.

Auction items include anglerfish, mullet, greenling, flounder, olive flounder, monkfish, and spotted rays, as well as horsehair crab, octopus, webfoot octopus, sea cucumber, and shellfish. The distance between the live-fish market and the pier is just over 10 m, but visitors wishing to watch the auction must distinguish work areas from general viewing areas, so entry into the inner area cannot be guaranteed.

South Harbor and North Harbor separated by a small hill

Mijo Port is divided into South Harbor and North Harbor by a low hill. South Harbor has live-fish and dried-seafood markets, and the area around the breakwater at its end is used as a fishing spot.

It is said that you can see North Harbor at a glance from Mijo Middle School at the entrance to North Harbor. On a clear day, Yokjido Island in Tongyeong can also come into view, but visitors should follow on-site guidance regarding the actual access route between the harbor and the school.

Mulhoe at North Harbor, anchovy-and-hairtail set meals at South Harbor

Namhae-gun designates the North and South harbors of Mijo Port as a food district, introducing seafood mulhoe at North Harbor and anchovy-and-hairtail set meals at South Harbor as signature dishes. After touring the port, deciding which harbor to eat at makes choosing a meal easier.

As of the revision dated December 31, 2020, the food-district listing contains 22 establishments. Gongju Restaurant is at 230 Mijo-ro, phone 055-867-6728, and Namyang Restaurant is also at 230 Mijo-ro, phone 055-867-6662. Geumho Restaurant is at 234 Mijo-ro, phone 055-867-0207.

In addition, Myeonginejip Restaurant is at 218 Mijo-ro, phone 055-867-4413, while Deungdaebul is at 32-1 Mijoro 236beon-gil, phone 055-867-5992. Nammi Sashimi Restaurant is listed at 44-1 Misong-ro, phone 055-867-6051.

See the evergreen forest of Mijori at the harbor entrance

At the entrance to Mijo Port is the evergreen forest of Mijori, a windbreak forest created to block sea winds. The forest is designated Natural Monument No. 29 and is home to 15 species of trees, including zelkova, hackberry, Machilus, and Japanese mock orange.

Therefore, Mijo Port is best experienced not as a place to see only the pier and leave, but by connecting the forest at the harbor entrance with the fishing-industry areas of South and North harbors. However, a low hill lies between the two harbors, and the route includes walking around the breakwaters, so wheelchair and stroller users should check specific detours on site.

Open year-round, but plan separately for the morning auction and meals

According to tourism information, Mijo Port is open at all times throughout the year, and admission is free. As it is not a tourist facility requiring passage through a separate ticket office, a ticket is not needed for an ordinary harbor walk.

If you plan to attend the auction, you must travel to South Harbor in time for 7:00 a.m. in summer or 7:30 a.m. in winter. The auction lasts 30 minutes to one hour depending on the volume of goods, after which a reasonable sequence is to see the South Harbor market and breakwater, followed by mulhoe at North Harbor. No confirmed information is available about the recommended viewing time for the harbor itself, photography restrictions, English guidance or audio guides, or the general viewing area inside the fish market.

Driving from Hadong IC on the Namhae Expressway to Mijo Port

For visitors arriving by car, the recommended route is to take National Route 19 toward Namhae from Hadong IC on the Namhae Expressway, pass Namhae Bridge, Samjeon Junction, and Chojeon Junction, and approach Mijo Port. National Routes 3 and 19 meet at Chojeon Junction, and Mijo Port is the terminus of National Route 19.

Mijo Port is listed as having parking facilities, but no confirmed information is available about the parking location, capacity, or fees. Since the station name, exit number, bus route numbers, stop names, and walking time for public transportation have also not been confirmed, first-time foreign visitors are advised to enter “232 Mijo-ro, Mijo-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do” into a map app and plan their journey accordingly.

Continue on to Pallang Village, Seolli Village, and Songjeong Solbaram Beach

Following the road behind Mijo Port allows you to take a coastal driving route from Pallang Village through Seolli Village to Songjeong Beach. Rather than making a round trip only to Mijo Port, combining the coastal road with a driving itinerary lets you continuously enjoy the area’s island and sea scenery.

Namhae-gun introduces Muminsa, a shrine honoring the spirit of General Choe Yeong, and the Mijori Evergreen Forest in Namhae as nearby attractions around Mijo Port, and Songjeong Solbaram Beach and Seolli Skywalk as nearby tourist destinations. Since exact travel times between the locations have not been confirmed, visitors planning to see them on the same day should separately check road conditions and operating status in a map app before departure.

Contact information and restrictions to know before visiting

For tourism inquiries about Mijo Port, contact the Namhae Tourist Information Center at 055-864-4025. The Namhae-gun Tourism Information Call Center is 1588-3415, with information available from 10:00 to 17:00. The department responsible for the food district is the Hygiene and Safety Team at the Namhae-gun Public Health Center, reachable at 055-860-8741.

Every year in the tenth month of the lunar calendar, villagers enshrine the village guardian deity at the shrine and hold a village rite to pray for peace and prosperity. However, the latest event schedule, restrictions on harbor use due to weather, whether cash payments are accepted, and the availability of English guidance are not confirmed, so those making the auction or restaurant visit a key part of their itinerary should check by phone.