Dongpirang Mural Village in Tongyeong: A Visitor's Guide

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Why go

Dongpirang (“East Cliff Village”) is one of Korea’s original mural villages — the model that inspired similar projects across the country. In the mid-2000s, the hillside neighborhood was slated for demolition as part of an urban redevelopment plan. A civic art group and volunteers painted murals across the walls, stairways, and rooftops of the low-rise houses to draw public attention and save the village. It worked: the murals turned a quiet fishing-town hillside into one of Tongyeong’s most photographed spots, and the neighborhood is still lived-in, not a staged film set. Expect narrow lanes, sea-facing views, laundry hanging next to painted walls, and a slightly steep but manageable climb.

Getting there

Tongyeong has no train or subway service — the town is reached by intercity bus, most commonly from Busan (around 1.5–2 hours from Busan’s Seobu or Sasang bus terminals) or from Seoul via a longer bus/KTX-plus-bus combination. From Tongyeong’s intercity bus terminal, a taxi to Jungang (Chungmu) Market/Dongpirang takes roughly 10–15 minutes; local city buses also run toward the old downtown/port area, though a taxi is simpler for first-time visitors juggling luggage.

Once in the old town, Dongpirang sits directly behind Jungang Market, on the hill facing Ganglipdo and the inner harbor. Look for the market’s rear alleys — mural-painted stair-streets begin climbing almost immediately once you’re past the fish stalls. There’s no single “entrance”; several stepped lanes lead up from different points around the market and the Tongyeong Central Market waterfront road.

What to see and do

The village is compact — a cluster of maybe a dozen alleys zigzagging up the hillside — but the murals change regularly, repainted every couple of years by rotating groups of artists and volunteers, so returning visitors often find a different village than the one they remember. Popular subjects include sea creatures, Tongyeong’s fishing boats, folk-tale characters, and playful trompe l’oeil scenes (open “windows” painted onto blank walls, stairways that appear to dissolve into the sky).

At the top of the hill is a small pavilion and open platform with one of the best free panoramic views in Tongyeong: the harbor crowded with fishing boats, the market rooftops below, and the scattered islands of Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park on the horizon. Sunset and early morning light both work well here.

Because the lanes are steep stone stairs, wear shoes with grip, and expect some backtracking — it’s not a single loop but a web of interconnecting alleys, so getting slightly lost is part of the experience. Photography is the main activity; there are also small cafés and a few local snack stalls tucked into the village, useful for a rest partway up.

When to go

Weekday mornings (before 10 a.m.) or late afternoons after 4 p.m. are quietest — Dongpirang is popular with domestic tour groups and school trips, and the narrow lanes get congested midday on weekends and holidays. Spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November) bring the most comfortable climbing weather; summer is humid and the uphill stretches feel steeper in the heat. The murals themselves are viewable, and the hilltop view is at its best, on clear days — Tongyeong’s harbor haze on overcast days dulls the island views considerably.

Nearby & tips

Dongpirang pairs naturally with Jungang (Chungmu) Market at its base — go for fresh seafood, hotteok, and Tongyeong’s signature chungmu gimbap (small rice rolls served with spicy squid and radish kimchi, no filling inside the rice). A short walk or taxi ride away is the Tongyeong Cable Car, which climbs Mireuksan for an even higher island-studded view, and the Tongyeong Ferry Terminal, from which boats depart to nearby islands like Sado and Yokjido. Seomindang, the old downtown’s colonnaded market street, and the historic Sebyeonggwan naval pavilion are also within easy walking or short-taxi distance, making the Dongpirang hill a good anchor for a half-day loop through old Tongyeong.