The Complete Pohang Coastal Drive Course Guide (Yeongildae·Homigot·Guryongpo)

For a Pohang coastal drive, most people pick the roughly 100km route that starts at Yeongildae Beach, loops around Homigot, and ends in Guryongpo. You can take in East Sea sunrise spots and old harbor scenery in a single day, and since you can set off right from downtown, it’s an easy weekend day trip.

Where Should You Start a Pohang Coastal Drive?

Pohang’s coastal road splits at Yeongildae Beach: south toward the Homigot·Guryongpo line, and north toward the Chilpo·Wolpo·Hwajin line. The southern route strings together old harbor towns and sunrise spots, while the northern route’s appeal is its long, straight coastal road and quiet sandy beaches. If it’s your first time, we’d recommend starting with the southern Homi Peninsula line, where you can fit in sunrise, lunch, and a relaxed walk.

Plan your route as sunrise → cafe/lunch → harbor stroll → sunset drive, and you can cut your driving distance in half.

Recommended Pohang Coastal Drive Routes at a Glance

We compared the southern and northern routes. Pick one based on your starting point and schedule.

It’s about a 25~30 minute drive from KTX Pohang Station to Yeongildae, so it’s an easy day trip even from Seoul.

Yeongildae Beach — Your Starting Point by the Sea, Right in the City

Yeongildae Beach’s highlights are its 1.75km stretch of sand and the ‘Yeongildae Observatory,’ Korea’s first over-water pavilion, reached by walking 80m out over the sea. The Yeongildae Observatory is free to enter and open year-round, with access to Yeongil Bridge only temporarily restricted during strong winds or severe weather (source: Korea Tourism Organization).

Parking Information

• Yeongildae roadside and public parking lots 1 & 2: 500 won for the first 20 minutes, then 200 won per 10 minutes
• That works out to roughly 1,200 won for 60 minutes, so it’s not much of a burden
• During peak season (July~August), arriving before 10 a.m. is recommended

Worth Visiting Nearby

Hwanho Park Spacewalk is about a 10-minute drive from Yeongildae. Since you can enjoy both the coastal night view and a walk at once, it’s often paired into night-view drive courses.

Homigot — Where the Korean Peninsula Sees Sunrise First

Homigot Sunrise Square is the spot where the sun rises earliest on mainland Korea. The Hands of Harmony sculpture is a bronze statue installed in 1999 to mark the new millennium, with the right hand in the sea and the left hand facing it from the square. A large free parking lot at the entrance to Sunrise Square makes it easy to get there by car.

Visitor Information

• Recommended visit time: About 1.5~2.5 hours
• Also worth seeing: National Lighthouse Museum, New Millennium Memorial Hall, Homi Peninsula Coastal Trail (the Seonbawi, or ‘Standing Rock,’ section)
• Watch out for: Vehicle access is heavily restricted during the New Year’s Sunrise Festival, December 31~January 1

Sunrise time at Homigot changes with the season. Checking the exact time for your visit date on the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute’s sunrise calculator beforehand makes planning your route much easier.

Guryongpo — A Harbor Town With Old-World Charm

About 20 more minutes by car south of Homigot is Guryongpo Harbor. Guryongpo is a port famous for gwamegi (half-dried herring or saury) and is also well known for its Guryongpo Modern History Street, lined with houses that remain from the Japanese colonial era.

Guryongpo Modern History Street

• Address: 277 Homi-ro, Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Parking: Free at the Guryongpo Harbor public parking lot
• Highlight: At the Guryongpo Modern History Museum, converted from Hashimoto Zenkichi’s house, you can see the Japanese-style architecture and daily life of the era

Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center

This exhibition hall covers the origin, history, and industry behind gwamegi. It also has a 3D video experience room, so it’s a good stop with kids too. Operating hours vary by season and day of the week, so it’s safest to check Pohang City Hall’s official notice before you go.

The Northern Coast: Chilpo·Wolpo Beach Drive

Head north from Yeongildae and you’ll find Chilpo, Wolpo, and Hwajin beaches lined up one after another. Their appeal is the quiet East Sea atmosphere and the long, straight coastal road.

Wolpo Beach is a well-known spot among East Coast surfers. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Yeongildae to Wolpo.

Pre-Visit Checklist & Precautions

Here’s what’s good to prepare before you set off on your drive.

• Check your vehicle’s fuel and tires (the coastal road has many curves)
• Check sunrise/sunset times in advance (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute website)
• Double-check operating hours for Yeongildae and the Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center
• Budget for meals (prices for raw fish, gwamegi, and mulhoe vary a lot)
• If strong winds are forecast, check whether the Yeongildae pavilion is closed to visitors

The East Sea coastal road often sees fog and sudden gusts of wind. Visibility at night can drop sharply, especially along the Homigot line, so it’s best to avoid long-distance driving right after sunset.

If you want to extend your East Coast drive further, pair it with the Ulsan 1-Night-2-Day Course, or connect it with the Yangsan Day Trip Course (Tongdosa, Hwangsan Park, and a Drive) to cover both the coast and mountains of the Yeongnam region in one trip.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cover the whole Pohang coastal drive in a day?

The southern route (Yeongildae → Homigot → Guryongpo) works as a day trip with 1.5 hours of driving plus 4~5 hours of sightseeing. If you want to add the northern route too, a 1-night, 2-day trip is more comfortable.

How long does it take from Pohang Station to Yeongildae Beach?

It’s about a 25~30 minute drive from KTX Pohang Station to Yeongildae Beach. City buses run too, but if your goal is a coastal drive, renting a car is the most efficient option.

Is Homigot the only sunrise spot?

Homigot is the most famous, but you can also see the sunrise from the Yeongildae Observatory and Chilpo Beach. Homigot gets extremely congested on New Year’s Day, so many people plan their route with Yeongildae as a backup.

Parking fees feel like a burden — are there free parking lots too?

Parking is free at Homigot Sunrise Square and the Guryongpo Harbor public parking lot. The area around Yeongildae charges a fee, but at around 1,200 won for 60 minutes, it’s not much of a burden.

Is it worth driving on a rainy day?

Not recommended — visibility drops on the coastal road, and the Yeongildae pavilion may be closed to visitors. Instead, try adjusting your itinerary to indoor spots like the Guryongpo Modern History Museum or the Gwamegi Culture Center.

If you liked the route we’ve laid out today, next weekend you might even try picking a new East Coast destination on a whim. Drive safe, and enjoy capturing some great ocean views.

References

• Yeongildae Beach - Every Corner of Korea (Korea Tourism Organization)
• The Sea and the Canal: Pohang, Full of Romance in the Heart of the City - Every Corner of Korea
• Guryongpo Modern History Street - Every Corner of Korea (Korea Tourism Organization)
• Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center - Pohang City Hall