Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Changwon, South Korea

Until 2010, the city of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province encompassed three distinct areas. The port towns of Masan and Jinhae flanked the original Changwon, a city meticulously constructed in the 1970s. These towns have now merged and lie along a picturesque, steep, and irregular coastline bordering the East China Sea.

Jinhae is notable for its naval base and annually hosts South Korea’s largest cherry blossom festival every April, coinciding with military parades and aerial displays. Masan, situated on rocky terrain, boasts the largest fish market in South Korea, located by the water’s edge, alongside a maze of alleys containing a remarkable museum dedicated to the 20th-century artist Moon Shin.

1. Masan Fish Market

One of Changwon’s key attractions is the largest fish market in South Korea. It comprises over 1,200 stalls located right on the bay, offering a variety of fish and seafood sourced from the coastal areas of Geoje, Masan, and Tongyeong. The market, mostly sheltered and arranged along narrow lanes, is organized into sections specializing in items like dried fish and salted fish. A notable highlight for hungry visitors is the hoetjip, an entire section dedicated solely to raw fish restaurants.

Following your visit, you can also explore the expansive Lotte Department Store, only a short distance from the waterfront.

2. Changdong Art Village

Once a prosperous commercial center, Masan began to decline a decade ago as businesses vacated the area. To revitalize this network of alleys, artists were invited to establish studios in the vacant storefronts, transforming a once-dormant part of the city into a vibrant art district. Adorned with murals, installations, and numerous planters, Changdong Art Village exudes a bohemian atmosphere that attracts visitors to its cafes, studios, and galleries nestled in narrow streets. Key areas to explore include Ecole de Chang-dong Alley, Masan Mountain Trail Art Alley, and Moonshin Art Alley.

Ensure to visit the Changdong Art Village Art Center, which exhibits works by international artists and offers information about ongoing events within the village.

3. Burim Market

Adjacent to Changdong Art Village lies Masan’s primary traditional market, which has been operating daily since 1926. It was separated from the Masan Fish Market by the establishment of Happo-ro street in the 1970s. Burim Market specializes in fresh produce, tableware, clothing, dry goods, and various other items. It is also recognized within Changwon as a key location for wedding preparations, with numerous stores offering hanbok (traditional Korean attire) for rent or purchase. A culinary highlight of Burim Market is its famous tteok-bokki, a dish made of spicy stir-fried rice cakes.

4. Changwon Garosu-gil

Named after the famous Sinsadong Garosu-gil thoroughfare in Seoul, Changwon’s Garosu-gil, which translates to “tree-lined street,” features a beautifully picturesque road lined with vibrant metasequoias next to Yongji Park. An Italian restaurant opened in this area a few years back, leading to a surge of trendy cafes, design boutiques, specialty food shops, flower stores, and art galleries that attract a youthful and stylish clientele. Known among Changwon’s expatriates as Cafe Street, this location offers sidewalk terraces during spring and summer. The stunning vistas, including the mountains to the east of Changwon peeking through the trees, add to the area’s charm.

5. Changwon Marine Park

Located at the southern edge of Jinhae, Changwon Marine Park encompasses a range of maritime attractions on an island connected to the mainland by the 250-meter Eumji Bridge. The striking silhouette of the Changwon Solar Tower, a 120-meter high structure serving as both a radio mast and observatory, is visible from afar. Visitors can ascend the tower for an unparalleled panoramic view of Changwon’s mountains and its intricately indented coastline. The park hosts a variety of attractions, including the Marine Life Theme Park, which showcases global marine ecosystems, and the Naval Battle History Hall, which chronicles South Korea’s naval heritage. Additionally, visitors can conclude their day on the island by witnessing the sunset over Jinhaeman Bay.

6. Moonshin Art Museum

The highly esteemed sculptor and painter Moon Shin (1923-1995) spent part of his childhood in Masan, a region tied to his family’s history. After a career that oscillated between Paris and Seoul, he returned to Masan in 1980 and began constructing this museum, which took 14 years to complete and was inaugurated in 1994, shortly before his passing. He generously donated around 3,900 pieces to the institution, which reflect on his life and the defining stages of his career. Moon Shin’s artistic endeavor drew inspiration from nature’s symmetry, resulting in a diverse collection of sculptures crafted from plaster, bronze, ebony, and pine, alongside paintings and drawings. The museum also features a cafe and terrace offering splendid views over Masan Bay.

7. Gagopa Kkoburang-gil Mural Village

This scenic hillside neighborhood is accessible by foot, taking you through the bustling alleys north of the Moon Shin Art Museum. Comprising about 30 homes, Gagopa Kkoburang-gil Mural Village is adorned with murals that draw inspiration from Changwon’s coastal landscapes and historic urban scenes, intertwined with the pop art influences of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Visitors will frequently encounter remarkable views of Masan harbor and may discover historical elements such as a century-old well. Since Gagopa Kkoburang-gil is a residential area, visitors should respect the quietude of its inhabitants.

8. The House of Changwon

A unique opportunity to witness traditional Korean culture amidst Changwon’s modern landscape is offered by the House of Changwon, a hanok complex approximately 200 years old. This collection of 14 buildings, located near Changwon Jungang Station, is open to the public and was once the residence of Ducheol, a scholar from the Late Joseon Period. Secured by formidable gates, the site features a pond, two mills, two pavilions, and well-preserved hanoks that accommodate a Farm Equipment Museum, a master suite, a Folk Culture Education Center, a Korean Heritage Museum, and a guest suite located at the center of the complex. The larger pavilion, an elegantly octagonal structure known as palgakjeong, enhances the site’s aesthetic appeal, which is complemented by meticulously landscaped grounds featuring trees, lawns, and well-maintained hedges.

9. Yongji Lake

This well-known artificial lake measures approximately 400 meters in length and 200 meters in width, bordered to the south by some of Changwon’s most iconic structures. A paved path, roughly 1.2 kilometers long, runs along the shore, offering stunning views of the distant mountains from the southern bank. The pathway is lined with cherry trees, whose blossoms create a spectacular backdrop of vibrant colors in April, contrasting beautifully against the evergreens. Every evening from April through November (weather permitting), there is an enchanting light, water, and music show on the lake, lasting half an hour.

10. Jinhae Gunhangje Festival

While cherry blossom festivals are held in parks across every major city in South Korea each spring, none is as expansive as the city-wide celebration in Jinhae that attracts approximately two million visitors annually, featuring breathtaking scenery. The festival’s origins can be traced back to one dedicated to commemorating Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598), the esteemed naval commander active during Korea’s Japanese invasions (1592-1598). For ten days at the beginning of April, Jinhae is transformed into a spectacle of white blooms and picturesque photo opportunities. Notable spots include Gyeonghwa Station, where cherry trees line the railway tracks, and Jehwangsan Mountain Park, known for its stunning combination of cherry blossoms and forsythia.

During these ten days, the Korea Naval Academy and the Naval Base Headquarters traditionally open their grounds to the public, allowing visitors to appreciate the cherry trees in bloom.

Additionally, to commemorate the festival’s military heritage, expect parades, a fireworks display, and breathtaking aerial performances by the ROK Air Force’s stunt team, the Black Eagles.

11. Anmingogae Hill

We have reached the point where we can no longer detail all the remarkable locations for viewing cherry blossoms during the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival. Anmingogae Hill, part of the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Tunnel which traverses the city, features a winding nine-kilometer road that connects Taebaek-dong to Anmin-dong in the west. For two-thirds of this route, the road is lined with cherry trees, offering beautiful panoramic views of Jinhaeman Bay and the towering peaks of Ungsan Sirubong and Cheonjabong, each exceeding 500 meters in elevation. Benches are conveniently available at 100-meter intervals for those who wish to rest along the hike. A noteworthy feature is the Anmin Ecology Bridge, adorned with vegetation to facilitate wildlife migration between the mountainous regions of Jangboksan and Ungsan.

12. Yeojwacheon Stream

The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival has made a significant impact on Korean popular culture, most notably in 2002 when pivotal characters from the MBC TV series “Romance” first encountered each other on the charming wooden bridge spanning the Yeojwacheon Stream. This stream is picturesque year-round, but especially enchanting during the festival, adorned with a canopy of delicate blossoms. Throughout the festival’s ten-day duration, a unique light installation called the Starlight Festival enhances the stream’s beauty. In 2019, lasers and LED strip lights illuminated the stream and Romance Bridge, while previous years featured whimsical decorations such as umbrellas, hearts, stars, fairies, windmills, and bicycles.

13. Junam Reservoir

A few kilometers north of Changwon lies an expansive reserve dedicated to migratory birds, encompassing three reservoirs. This environment serves as a crucial winter habitat for species such as the white-naped crane (standing 1.3 meters tall), Eurasian spoonbills, and Baikal teals. Of the 150 bird species frequenting the area, 20 are classified as endangered. The accessible portion of the reserve is known as the Junam Reservoir Ecological Habitat, routinely serviced by buses from Changwon. Facilities include bird-watching hides and a visitor center showcasing multimedia exhibits detailing the various avian species and their ecology. Guided bird-watching tours can be arranged, and visitors can stroll along paths bordered by wildflowers, with an impressive field of lotuses blooming in the summer. Bicycles are also available at no cost for up to two hours from the visitor center.

14. Sang Sang-gil

Initiated by the Korea Tourism Organization, this street in Changdong Art Village was transformed into a walk of fame celebrating ordinary individuals. When this initiative was launched in 2015, millions participated for the opportunity to have their own nameplate, ultimately resulting in the selection of 23,000 winners. These tiles are placed among those signed by several Korean celebrities, including Krystal Jung and members of K-pop groups Kara and 4Minute. If you were one of the participants, you can locate your name in the commemorative book available on the first floor of the Changdong Art Centre in Changdong Art Village.

15. Changwon Marine Drama Open Film Set

For producers of Korean television dramas wishing to film in a maritime setting, this purpose-built set located south of Masan is the preferred choice. The Marine Drama Open Film Set lies on a narrow isthmus between two tranquil coves, where the scenic coastline is enveloped by lush woodlands. Constructed for the 2010 MBC series “Kim Su-ro, The Iron King,” which starred Ji Sung and Park Gun-tae and was inspired by the life of Gim Suro, the first-century founder of the city-state Geumgwan Gaya, the set features a wooden waterside village. It includes a pier, smithy, stable, market stalls, and historically themed vessels and has since served as a backdrop for numerous major television productions by MBC, OCN, KBS, and SBS.