South Gyeongsang Province

How to Read Tongyeong Port from Seopirang’s 99 Steps and Seoporu Pavilion

Seopirang Park is a free park that has revitalized the hill between Myeongjeong-dong and Seoho-dong in Tongyeong with walking trails, 99 Steps, and a music garden. From Seoporu Pavilion, you can see Ganggua-an, Dongpirang, Bukporu Pavilion, and the Tongjeyeong Government Office together, but it is best to plan your route in advance because of the stairs and changes in elevation.

By the KOTourLive Editorial Team Updated: Aug 19, 2026 14 min 134

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Why Seopirang Hill Became a Park in 2017

Seopirang Park is a neighborhood park created by developing Seopirang Hill, which was located on the border of Myeongjeong-dong and Seoho-dong in Tongyeong-si. The park was completed in 2017 and was designed to provide a green resting space in the city center while preserving the historical character of Tongyeong.

Seopirang Village was once one of the representative hillside slums (daldongne) that locals avoided due to the formation of a red-light district after liberation. However, the area was naturally renovated in the 2000s. Since 2013, a 200m path through the center of the village was designated as the 'Greeting Street,' and as residents participated directly in the installation of artworks, the current layout centered on murals and stairs was established.

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Landscape of Seopirang Park hill and the village. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

5 Minutes from Munhwa Madang Stop: Entry Route for First-Time Visitors

After entering downtown Tongyeong, you can set Munhwa Madang Stop as your destination. Bus routes 101, 301, 231, 600, and 530 are guided as lines that approach Munhwa Madang Stop, and it is approximately a 5-minute walk from the stop to Seopirang.

Tongyeong does not have a subway system, and Seopirang Park is noted as being inaccessible by subway. Since current bus intervals are not confirmed in the data, it is safer for foreign travelers to check real-time operations on station electronic boards or map apps. The address is 22, Chungryeol-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the land-lot number address is 6-1, Seoho-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.

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View of the path leading to Seopirang Park. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

Free Admission and Open Year-Round: Operating Information at a Glance

Seopirang Park is open year-round, and admission is free. While no specific closing time for entry is confirmed, it is guided that the night landscape lighting for the park trails, the 99 Stairs, and Seoporu Pavilion is turned on from sunset until midnight.

The inquiry phone number is 055-650-0580, and the official Tongyeong tourism website is https://www.utour.go.kr/utour.web. It is noted as being open every day of the year. Since it is not a paid tourist attraction with a ticket office, there is no need to purchase tickets or prepare cash. However, information regarding cash-only facilities, filming restrictions, or the availability of English audio guides is not confirmed.

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Outdoor walking space of Seopirang Park. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

Capturing Gangguan, Dongpirang, and Bukporu in One View from Seoporu

Seoporu Pavilion is located at the summit of Seopirang. From here, you can see Gangguan, Tongyeong's main harbor, as well as Dongpirang, Bukporu, and Tongjeyeong across the way, making it a great place to understand the geography of Tongyeong, where the harbor and hill villages intertwine.

The path to the summit of Seoporu is mainly divided into a path starting near Chungryeolsa Temple and a path using the 99 Stairs. Parking facility information varies by source; official guides indicate no parking facilities, while other travelogues mention a free parking lot at the park entrance. Seoporu has also been introduced as a famous photo spot selected by photographers nationwide.

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Tongyeong Port and surrounding hills viewed from Seoporu. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

The 99 Stairs and Park Kyung-ni’s 'The Daughters of Pharmacist Kim'

The Seopirang 99 Stairs were once the stairs used to go up and down the red-light district, but they have now been reborn as a work of art with murals and sculptures. These stairs are introduced as the setting for Park Kyung-ni's novel 'The Daughters of Pharmacist Kim,' making the climb a journey through both the daily history and literature of Tongyeong.

In Seopirang Village, paths such as the 'Seopirang Literature Neighborhood,' 'The Road to School with Yun I-sang,' 'Bo-i-so, Bangap-seum-ni-dei! Greeting Street,' and 'Ttukjimeondang 98 Stairs' continue. In Park Kyung-ni's novel 'Toji' (The Land), small boats anchored in Tongyeong Port and the harbor lights are described, which can be connected to the landscape of Gangguan seen from Seoporu.

Route from the 140 Piano Stairs to the Music Garden

The Piano Stairs in Seopirang utilized the existing 140 stairs to shape a treble clef. Among them, 24 steps were created as piano keys that can actually be played, and a Music Garden was built nearby.

The park includes general walking trails, the 99 Stairs, the Music Garden, and the Piano Stairs, with various murals along the way to the park. If the staircase course feels burdensome, there is a route guided to climb up to Seoporu first via a gentle slope from the park entrance and then move toward the 99 Stairs when coming down.

From Sunset to Midnight: Conditions for a Night Walk in Seopirang

Night landscape lighting was installed in November 2020, and lights are turned on for the park trails, 99 Stairs, and Seoporu from sunset to midnight. If you check the geography of Gangguan and Dongpirang during the day and walk the illuminated sections again at night, the atmosphere of the same stairs changes.

However, 2018 Tongyeong-si administrative audit data mentioned damage to wooden decks and tourist safety accidents after completion in 2017. At the site, regardless of the lighting time, it is advisable to check for uneven steps on stairs and decks and to choose non-slip shoes during dark hours. Restrictions on filming or use during bad weather have not been confirmed.

Accessibility: Steps and Stairs for Wheelchair and Stroller Users

The main entrance of Seopirang Park has steps, and there are no elevators for the disabled or wheelchair rental services. Low-floor bus access is also guided as unavailable, making it difficult for wheelchair users to use the summit route, including the 99 Stairs and Piano Stairs.

It is also guided that there are no disabled toilets or dedicated parking spaces for the disabled, and there is no stroller rental service. General toilets are guided as available facilities. While there are reviews suggesting it takes about an hour to see the park and Seopirang Village together, the official recommended viewing time has not been confirmed, so it is better to allow plenty of time depending on whether you include the staircase sections.

Before You Go

Address: 22, Chungryeol-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do / 6-1, Seoho-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hours: Open year-round
Closed: Guided as open every day of the year
Admission: Free
Phone: 055-650-0580
Official site: https://www.utour.go.kr/utour.web
Transport: Guided as a 5-minute walk after getting off bus 101, 301, 231, 600, or 530 at Munhwa Madang Stop
Parking: Information conflicts between official guides: Korea Tourism Organization's Chinese page indicates no parking facilities, while travel articles mention a free parking lot at the park entrance
Time needed: Estimated at around 1 hour to look around Seopirang Park and the village based on reviews, but no explicit data on viewing duration was found
Accessibility: Main entrance has steps; guided as no disabled toilets, elevators, dedicated parking, wheelchair rentals, or stroller rentals

The information above is based on the time of writing. Please recheck official guides before visiting.

Seopirang Park Tongyeong Port 99 Steps Seoporu Pavilion Park Kyung-ni night walk

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