How to Walk Along Tongyeong Canal, the 1,420 m Waterway Separating Mireuk Island from Downtown Tongyeong

1,420 m long · 55 m wide: Tongyeong Canal, which turned Mireukdo into an island

Tongyeong Canal is an artificial waterway connecting Dangdong on the Tongyeong city side with Misudong at the northern end of Mireukdo. According to specifications published in academic materials, it is 1,420 m long, 55 m wide, and 3 m deep. Beneath this waterway runs the 483 m-long, 5 m-wide, 3.5 m-high Tongyeong Undersea Tunnel. Cars cross Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge, while pedestrians can walk through the undersea tunnel, creating a layout where visitors can experience the water's surface, bridges, and an undersea walkway together in one area.

The canal area connects by sea the narrow terrain separating Tongyeong Port and Mireukdo. Tourism materials describe it as Korea's only “three-level transportation route,” explaining that ships travel on the water, a pedestrian tunnel lies beneath the sea, and vehicle bridges span above. The canal itself is an outdoor public space that can be viewed without an admission fee, and it is not operated as a facility with designated entry and exit hours.

A 483 m “underwater” walking section beginning at the 1932 undersea tunnel

The quickest way to understand the canal is to pass through the Tongyeong Undersea Tunnel first. The undersea tunnel is known to have been built in 1932 and connects the Dangdong area around 7 Docheon 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, with Misudong. The representative telephone number listed in Tongyeong City's tourist information is 055-650-0582, and admission is free.

The tunnel is introduced as being available for pedestrian use 24 hours a day, but late at night it is better to travel with someone rather than alone, and after rain it is advisable to check the condition of the floor. Walking the 483 m at an ordinary pace takes approximately 7–10 minutes. Although it is a flat pedestrian passage rather than a stairway, some sections of the full Tongyeong Canal walk have different bridge approaches and sidewalk widths, so wheelchair and stroller users should check the route on site before setting out.

• Undersea tunnel location: Around 7 Docheon 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Tunnel length: 483 m
• Tunnel width and height: 5 m wide, 3.5 m high
• Admission: Free
• Inquiries: 055-650-0582

Approximately 1 km between Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge; the night view appears after sunset

The night-view section of Tongyeong Canal extends from the undersea tunnel to Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge. A 2024 report introduced the approximately 1 km stretch from the undersea tunnel to Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge as being connected by lighting at night. Therefore, arriving at the undersea tunnel 20–30 minutes before sunset, passing through the tunnel, and then walking along the paths around the bridges is a suitable way to see both the daytime scenery and the reflections after the lights come on.

Because the canal is 55 m wide, it is easy to capture the lights and shapes of the bridges on the opposite side in one frame, but visitors should not lean toward or stop in the roadway on bridges used by vehicles. If you only want a quick view of the night scenery, allow 45–60 minutes for a round trip through the undersea tunnel combined with walking around Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge; including photography, it is better to allow 70–90 minutes.

A 60-minute route from 7 Docheon 1-gil via Unha 1-gil to Chungmu Bridge

The provided reference point, Unit 101, Building B, 25 Unha 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, can be used to access the western waterfront of the canal. From there, travel south along the canal to the Dangdong entrance of the undersea tunnel, cross the tunnel, look back at the canal's surface from the Misudong side, and then return toward Chungmu Bridge. This sequence makes it easy to follow the route back.

The recommended order is the area around 25 Unha 1-gil → Dangdong entrance of the undersea tunnel → crossing the 483 m undersea tunnel → exit on the Misudong side → views of Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge. Depending on the route chosen on site, the walking distance is approximately 2–3 km. Excluding stairs and photography, the walk takes around 45 minutes; including night views and rest breaks, 1 to 1.5 hours is appropriate. Since the walkway borders the sea, an outer garment that covers the neck is more practical than a hat on windy days.

• Reference address: Unit 101, Building B, 25 Unha 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Undersea tunnel address: Around 7 Docheon 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Canal length: 1,420 m
• Recommended walking distance: Approximately 2–3 km
• Recommended duration: 45–90 minutes

Accessing the area by local bus 231 from Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal

In Tongyeong, it is more practical to plan local transportation around Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal rather than a railway station. The terminal address is 24 Juknim 4-ro, Gwangdo-myeon, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the information telephone number is 1688-0017. When traveling from the terminal to the canal area, bus routes and stop locations may change frequently, so it is safest to search for destination stops such as “Undersea Tunnel,” “Misudong,” and “Chungmu Bridge” on the Tongyeong City Bus Information System on the day of travel.

Bus 231 is listed as a route connecting Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal and Yonghwasa Temple. Bus routes in the 200 series toward Yonghwasa Temple include 200, 206, 211, 231, 235, 240, 243, and 281. However, event-related detours and last-bus adjustments may occur, so do not travel relying solely on the bus number; check real-time arrival information on the Tongyeong City Bus Information System immediately before departure. The canal has no subway station or exit numbers.

• Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal: 24 Juknim 4-ro, Gwangdo-myeon, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• Terminal information: 1688-0017
• Tongyeong City bus information inquiries: 1588-6442
• Example routes to check: 200, 206, 211, 231, 235, 240, 243, and 281
• Subway: Tongyeong has no urban railway stations

Consider parking and the walking section separately rather than relying on a dedicated parking lot

Because Tongyeong Canal is an elongated waterfront and bridge area, it is difficult to access it using only one dedicated tourist parking lot. If the undersea tunnel is your destination, first check map listings for public or private parking areas near Dangdong or Misudong. If your goal is the night view of Chungmu Bridge and Tongyeong Bridge, avoid roadside areas near the bridges where stopping or parking is prohibited.

Official tourism materials do not provide consolidated information on parking fees or capacity for the canal itself. Therefore, it is best to leave the parking information unspecified and give priority to on-site signs and Tongyeong City's parking guidance. In particular, if you leave your car at one side of the undersea tunnel and exit on the other side at night, you will need to travel back to retrieve it, so allow an additional 10–20 minutes in your schedule for the return to your vehicle.

• Tongyeong Canal dedicated parking fees and capacity: Not confirmed
• Recommended approach: Park near an undersea tunnel entrance and walk there and back
• Extra time for the nighttime return: Add 10–20 minutes
• Caution: Check signs prohibiting stopping and parking on bridges and coastal roads

When extending the route to Gangguyan and Jungang Market, make the canal the “final nighttime section”

Gangguyan Cultural Plaza is located at 328 Tongyeonghaean-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and its information telephone number is 055-645-3805. Also known as a place where warships were moored during the era of the Tongjeyeong naval command, Gangguyan is easy to combine with Jungang Market and Dongpirang, while the canal works well as a nighttime route connecting this old downtown area with Mireukdo. Rather than allowing a long walking distance from Gangguyan to the canal, it is more efficient for time management to travel by taxi or local bus and then begin walking from the undersea tunnel.

Tongyeong Samdosugun Tongjeyeong is located at 27 Sebyeong-ro, and its telephone number is 055-645-3805. During the day, visitors can view the urban structure of the Joseon naval forces at Tongjeyeong and Gangguyan, then move to Tongyeong Canal in the evening to see the bridge lights and undersea tunnel, allowing them to compare Tongyeong's waterfront areas from different historical periods. Rather than making a long detour solely for Tongyeong Canal, it is suitable to allocate 45–90 minutes after touring the old downtown area.

• Gangguyan Cultural Plaza: 328 Tongyeonghaean-ro, Tongyeong-si
• Gangguyan inquiries: 055-645-3805
• Tongyeong Samdosugun Tongjeyeong: 27 Sebyeong-ro, Tongyeong-si
• Tongjeyeong inquiries: 055-645-3805
• Recommended itinerary: Tour the old downtown area during the day, then walk along the canal in the evening

Although it is a free, 24-hour space, check accessibility information separately before setting out

Tongyeong Canal is not a tourist facility requiring an admission ticket, but an urban space combining a waterfront, bridges, and an undersea walkway. Admission is free, and the undersea tunnel is introduced as being available 24 hours a day. Reservations are not required. However, lighting times, bridge sidewalk construction, and access restrictions during typhoons or heavy rain may vary depending on the season and safety measures.

We could not confirm consolidated official information on foreign-language signage or wheelchair and stroller accessibility. Tongyeong City's tourism information and the Tongyeong City Bus Information System can be checked before departure, and travelers with limited mobility may wish to prioritize a short round trip along only the flat undersea tunnel section. A walk covering the entire canal may not suit travelers sensitive to vehicle noise, sea winds, or changes in sidewalk level.

• Canal admission: Free
• Undersea tunnel access: Listed as available 24 hours a day
• Reservations: Not required
• Foreign-language information: Not confirmed
• Wheelchair and stroller accessibility throughout the route: Not confirmed