GURYONGPO, POHANG CITY

Guryongpo

Guryongpo, a fishing village in Pohang City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, derives its name from the legend of a port where nine dragons ascended to heaven. It is famous as a filming location for the popular drama ‘When the Camellia Blooms,’ and especially along the Guryongpo Japanese House District, you can encounter the alleys from the drama and an exotic landscape. Red brick, wooden buildings, and old sliding doors evoke the atmosphere of a movie set. This place resonates even more deeply as it was the actual living space of people during the Japanese Colonial Period. The representative building, the Guryongpo Modern History Museum, showcases an architectural structure blending Japanese and Korean styles.

Guryongpo is also the production site for Gwaemegi(Half-dried Guryongpo Saury), a specialty of Pohang. The four-story Guryongpo Gwaemegi Culture Center and the nearby beach add to Guryongpo's unique flavor and leisurely atmosphere. Once the largest fishing base on the east coast, Guryongpo has now transformed into a space where the sea and art meet. The former Dongbu Elementary School has been reborn as the Ara Art Village, serving as an exhibition and creative space, while murals and photo zones throughout the alleys captivate visitors. With its refreshing sea breeze, charming alley scenery, and beautiful art, Guryongpo is a tourist destination offering special memories.

Guryongpo Modern History Museum

The Guryongpo Modern History Museum is a two-story Japanese-style wooden house built as a residence by Hashimoto Jengichi, who migrated from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, in the 1920s. After liberation, it was used as a private residence until Pohang City purchased it and opened it as the ‘Guryongpo Modern History Museum’ in 2012.

The exhibition hall recreates traditional furniture and daily life items from the Japanese Colonial Period, showcasing the lifestyle of the time through various materials. The building well preserves the structural and decorative features of Japanese architecture, establishing itself as a space to experience Guryongpo's history and culture.

Guryongpo Japanese House District

Guryongpo was once the largest fishing hub on the east coast. When Japan developed Guryongpo Port in 1923, Japanese immigration surged significantly. As a result, the alley where the current Japanese house district stands became the center of the local commercial district, filled with hospitals, shops, restaurants, and inns.

However, over time, the Japanese houses were demolished or damaged, gradually erasing the spaces that bore witness to the painful history endured by our people. In response, Pohang City restored and maintained the remaining buildings, creating the ‘Guryongpo Japanese House District’. This district showcases the lifestyle of Japanese residents during the Japanese colonial period while also allowing reflection on the hardships our economy and living culture endured.

Through a restoration project initiated in 2011, 28 buildings along a 457-meter stretch were restored. In 2012, it won the Grand Prize at the ‘2nd Korea Landscape Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, becoming a prime example of a successful urban revitalization project.

Stone Pillars at the Entrance Stairs of Guryongpo Park

The stone pillars lining the entrance stairs of Guryongpo Park were erected by the Japanese in 1944. There are 61 pillars on the left and 59 on the right, totaling 120. Their surfaces were inscribed with the names of Japanese immigrants who contributed to the construction of Guryongpo Port.

After liberation, when the Japanese withdrew, Guryongpo residents covered the inscriptions with cement to erase the record and stood the pillars upside down. Then, in 1960, during the construction of the Chunghonggak Shrine to enshrine the spirit tablets of Martyrs for the Nation and Patriotic Martyrs, the pillars were uprighted again and the names of the donors who helped with the construction were inscribed on them. Climbing the stairs along the stone pillar reveals the blue waters of Guryongpo.

Pier Lounge

Created as part of a planned regional tourism development project, the Pier Lounge is a traveler center providing various services such as tourist information and luggage storage for visitors to Guryongpo.

Location: Pier Lounge, 1st Floor, 143 Guryongpo-gil, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 9:00 PM
Closed: Open year-round / Closed on New Year's Day and major holidays (Chuseok, Seollal)
Main Phone Number: Pier Lounge 054-289-7920

Located in the center of the Guryongpo Japanese House District, the Pier Lounge offers various amenities for visitors.

1. Book Cafe & Rest Area
• A cozy space where you can freely read travel books and take a short break.

2. Nursing Room
• Equipped with a sofa, diaper changing table, infant high chair, microwave, water purifier, and sink, it provides a comfortable space for family visitors.

3. Restrooms
• Separate facilities for men and women, maintained as pleasant and clean sanitary spaces.

Located in the center of the Guryongpo Japanese House District, Pier Lounge provides various convenience services for visitors.

1. Luggage Storage
- Free storage for luggage, suitcases, and other items.

2. Wheelchair Rental
- Free rental service for seniors aged 65 and over and persons with disabilities.

3. Stroller Rental
Free rental service is available for infants and toddlers under 3 years old and weighing under 15kg.

Guryongpo Mural Village

Guryongpo Mural Village is a mural project created around Guryongpo Port in Pohang, a space that captures the stories of local residents and tourists. After viewing artwork descriptions and videos at the Pier Lounge, visitors can admire murals along the alleyways and staircases near the Modern History Museum. Additionally, docent tours and media art experience programs, known as Guryongpo Blues, are offered, providing an even richer experience.

Soft, chewy, and mildly savory Gwamegi

The ‘Pohang Guryongpo Gwaemegi(Half-dried Guryongpo Saury) Festival’ is a representative winter regional festival held annually around November. As of 2025, it marks its 26th year as a time-honored event. Guryongpo in Pohang is a leading producer of gwaemegi. From late autumn when the cold winds blow, many tourists from across the country visit to enjoy this winter delicacy.

The festival features free tasting sessions where visitors can sample GWAMEGI(Half-dried Guryongpo Saury) directly, along with various programs. Sales events offering Guryongpo's specialty products at special discounted prices add to the value-packed enjoyment. A gamegi song festival, where locals and tourists participate together, unfolds, and lively performances and events blend together to make the festival atmosphere even more vibrant.

The Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival is an unmissable event for Gwamegi lovers. It instills pride in locals and creates special memories for visitors.

🐟 Capturing the deep flavor and health benefits of Pohang's winter sea

GWAMEGI(Half-dried Saury) is a traditional food made by semi-drying herring or horse mackerel in the winter sea breeze, with Guryongpo in Pohang being its representative production area. Prepared fish are strung together and frozen and thawed for about ten days while drying. Guryongpo's cold, dry sea breeze reduces fishiness and adds a chewy texture.

It is typically eaten wrapped in seaweed or laver with garlic, chili peppers, vegetables, and CHOGOCHUJANG (Red Chili Paste with Vinegar), or pan-fried. Nutritionally, Gwamegi is outstanding. Rich in omega-3, DHA, and vitamins, it improves blood circulation and aids fatigue recovery, benefiting overall health.

The peak season for gwaemegi is winter, particularly from November to January. Visiting Guryongpo during this time allows you to witness the sight of gwaemegi drying in the sea breeze at the drying fields and enjoy it fresh locally. Gwaemegi is a healthy traditional food of Guryongpo, crafted by the winter sea and wind.

A complex space where you can experience Pohang's sea and Gwamegi culture

Pohang's Guryongpo was designated a Gamegi Special Zone in 2007. Construction on the Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center began in August 2014 for the promotion and quality control of gamegi, and it opened its doors after completion in May 2016. It stands as a symbolic space where the history and tradition of gwaemegi, along with the lives of local residents, harmoniously coexist.

The Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center is a complex cultural space where visitors can enjoy Pohang's sea and Gwamegi culture alongside cutting-edge video displays. The first floor features a special exhibition hall and a local specialty sales area. The second floor features a marine experience hall and a virtual underwater video experience hall. The third and fourth floors are designed as experience halls for family visitors. Notably, the outdoor observation deck offers a panoramic view of the Guryongpo sea.