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Location of Mokpo
Mokpo (Mokpo-si) ( Korean 목포, Hanjia 木浦 ) is a major port city in South Jeolla Province , South Korea ,surrounded by hills facing the sea on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula with a population of about 260,000. From Mokpo there are ferries to Tadohae Haesang National Park, Chin-do, Hong-do and Shinan island . The cheapest ferries to Chejo island also depart from Mokpo and the is now a ferry to Shanghai . Mokpo is the hometown of President Kim Dae-jung, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001
The area of Mokpo was controlled by the Mahan confederacy in the 3rd to 2nd century BC and later by the kingdom Baekje (18 BCE – 660 AD) . In 1439 King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty established the ' Mokpo man-ho ' or Mokpo bay camp to help fight Japanese pirates . There were many battles around Mokpo during the Japanese invasion of 1592 ( Imjin War ) in which the Korean national hero, admiral Yi-Sun-shin fought . The most famous of the battles in the Mokpo area was the battle Myeongryang on October 26, 1597 where admiral Yi-Sun-shin defeated a Japanese force of 133 ships with 13 ships .
Forgotten Mokpo
Video of Battle of Myeongnyang Oct 27, 1597. the Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin fought the Japanese navy at sea in Myeongnyang Strait, near Jindo Island. With only the 13 ships remaining from Won Gyun's disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chilchonryang, Admiral Yi Sunsin held the strait against a fleet of 133 Japanese warships and at least 200 Japanese support ships. Many Japanese warships were sunk or disabled during the battle and the Japanese were forced to retreat. Given the disparity in numbers, the battle is regarded as one of Admiral Yi's most remarkable victories
Mokpo in the 1930s, when it was known as Moppo under Japanese rule
Mokpo was opened as a treaty port in 1897 and became a strategic Japanese colonial city and many building from this period can still be seen today .
Japanese colonial buildings in Mokpo
stamp with Lyrics for ' The Tears of Mokpo '
Tears of Mokpo
In 1913 Mokpo was connected to Seoul by rail .
In the 1930s, Mun Il-sok wroke the popular folk song, ' the Tears of Mokpo ' The city was one of the largest cities in Korea until the late 1970s. During the Japanese Occupation, the city served as a crucial port for commercial ventures and transportation and there are still many building from the Japanese colonial period dotting the city . Additionally, the public educational system was one of the very best in Korea.
In 1949 Mokpo was elevated to city status .
On Jul 25, 1950, North Korean forces entered Mokpo .
On May 30, 1980, Troops have sealed off the southern city of Mokpo, where anti-Government demonstrations took place .
President Kim Dae-jung earned full support from Mokpo voters as a presidential candidate, and other political rivals are accused of having tried to underdevelop the city to decrease its population and therefore Kim Dae-jung's support base. Since Kim Dae-jung's election, the city has undergone much development.
The city is currently constructing the South Jeolla provincial office, which will cement its status as the capital of the region after Gwangju becomes a self-administering special-status city.
The Mokpo Tourist Information Center The Center is equipped with interpreters for 276 Daeyang-dong, Mokpo City zoomable map of Mokpo in English The people here are very friendly
Yudal San park
A short climb gives a commanding view of the city with many pavalions . There are many scultures to be see here, If you wander off the main trails you can find old carving on the hilside . The building in front of the park is historical site #289, which used to be the Japanese consulate . There is a statue there of Yi-Sun-shin, who gazes at Nojok-bong hill. According to legend Yi-Sun-shin covered the hill with straw bags to imitate bags of rice to fool the invading Japanese army that he had more troops than there really were .
Yudal beach
Take Number 1 Bus heading to Daebandong
Daebandong
Wharf area with many seafood restaurants . Not cheap, but worth it. Don't drink too much soju.Take the no1 bus .
Mokposisa Built in 1890, a Confucian academy
Gohado, whereYi-Sun-shin commanded during the battle of Myeongryang,during the Imjin War
National Maritime Museum
Here you can see the remains of the yuan Dynasty junk ( which is quite large ) and the relics found with it, along with other items from Korean naval history Take 111 Bus in front of Mokpo MBC, Hadang Geumho apartment, 25 minutes by taxi
Mokpo Natural History Museum
Mokpo Folklore Museum Yongsan Dam and farming Museum
Regional Cultural Center Hyangto Munhwagwan
Paintings by local artists, wooden carvings, Choson dynasty furniture next to the Maritime Museum
Namnong Memorial Hall
Features paintings of the southern painting school .
Mokpo Cultural Festival
Held every September or October since 1959, and it shows lives and spirits of Namdo people. During the festival, there are various kinds of events such as Play Festival, Music Festival, Jazz Concert
Ceramic Fair
downtown Mokpo
In the mouth of the Yongsan river and a naval base for Yi-Sun-shin during the Imjin War, ferries run 5 times daily to the island . There are to others islands off Mokpo, many of which are part of the Dadohae (Tadohae) Haesang National Parksuch as Hong-do, Huksando ,Pigum-do, Taeya-do ans Ui-do .Hong-do is the most popular island visited . there are 2 ferries there daily that take about 3.5 hours . there are ferries to Huksando that take about 2.5 hours .
The Mokpo ferry Terminal is where you can catch ferries to nearby islands, Cheju ( Jeju ) do , Yeosu , and Shanghai .
Map showing islands around Mokpo such as Chin-Do, Hong-Do, Hussan-Do, Ui-Do Tadohae Haesang National Park and the anti-Mongol fortresses of Namdosoksong and Yongjang Sansong
Chowon Tourist Hotel Mokpo, 3 star hotel by the sea in the Mountain Yudal area. 1-9 2 ka Daeui dong, Mountain Yudal, Mokpo, South Korea +82631 430055
Baek Je Hotel , in the heart of old town 0-13, 1-Ga, Sangnak-Dong 82631 424411
Shinan Beach Hotel +82631 433399
Hotel Haeunjang 10-5, Yonghae-Dong 1-Ga.
Hotel Alpsjang 1088-2, Yongdang 1-Dong There are many yogwan and yoinsuk around the train station and ferry terminal T The government will start building a mega economic zone on the south coast later this year by grouping Mokpo in South Jeolla Province, Busan and other southern cities. Tentatively named the Sun Belt economic zone Jan. 3 An international stone fair will be held here in July with more than 200 companies South Korea plans to complete a high-speed railway on its southwestern coast in 12 years, a move that will shorten the trip from the capital to the south by more than an hour
July 26, 2007 Archeologists and divers are now removing the high-quality green and blue-green glazed porcelain plates from what appears to be a 12th-century shipwreck in mudflats of the Goryeo Dynasty. Mokpo Gov website
Wikipedia on Mokpo
Wikimapia on Mokpo
movie times for movies in Mokpo
History of the War Between China and Japan for control of Korea 1894-5
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