Mokpo

At the very southwestern corner of the Korean peninsular, Mokpo is a large port city with some claim to fame from hosting the Korean Formula 1 circuit. t is located in the southwest end of Jeollanam-do. As of 2020, the population was 227,178, accounting for 12.1% of the total population of Jeollanam-do, the second largest after Yeosu-si and Suncheon-si.

• 🌍 Sihwa (시화골목길). Tiny old streets on a hill side, with artistic paintings. Be quiet as people actually live in these small colorful houses. It was made famous by the drama Love and Ambition. At the top is a small resting area. The best place to spend an hour while waiting for your ferry. Free. 
• 🌍 Gatbawi (갯바위). Big rocks with a strange shape, illuminated at night. Free. 
• 🌍 Yudalsan Park (유달산 공원), 506-58 Jukgyo-dong. 00:00-24:00 (Everyday). Yudalsan is well worth a visit for the commanding view from its summit of the bustling city and the many scenic islands. On your walk up, be sure to visit the noon gun, installed during the Japanese occupation, and two beautiful "Buddhist rock carvings". You can also enter with your dog. There is a cable car that runs from Bukhang (North Port) to the peak of the mountain, and then across the sea to another island. Longest cable car in Korea.
• Gatbawi Literature Hall. Featuring information about famous writers from Mokpo. No English available. ₩2,000. 
• 🌍 Korean International Grand Prix Circuit (영암국제자동차경주장), 2 Efwon-ro, Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, ☏ +82 61-288-4207. The annual Formula 1 race used to be held here every year around October. It has been removed from the F1 calendar. 
• Pyeonghwa Plaza. There are a lot of cafe and restaurants near by the sea. You can easily approach from anywhere in Mokpo.

• 🌍 Yudalsan Flower Festival (유달산 꽃 축제). It is a Mokpo's event held around Mt. Yudal. It is held in early April every year. (updated Oct 2019)

• Mokpo is famous for its raw ray fish. There are a lot of sushi restaurants in Mokpo. Sushi sold in Mokpo is generally cheaper than in other regions.

• Moe's Bar and Grille, Rose Street (upstairs from Eleven AM Cafe). 20:00-02:00. Nice western bar run by a guy from California. Offers countless kinds of beers and cocktails. Free popcorn. ₩2,500-10,000. 

• 🌍 Norway Guesthouse (from the train station, walk straight two blocks, then turn right and walk 200 m until you see a green building with a Norwegian flag). Clean dormitory with breakfast included. Trendy first floor with WiFi, helpful staff when reception is open. If you arrive late, they can give you the door code. ₩22,000. 
• 🌍 Shinan Beach Hotel (신안비치호텔), Coastal Road 2, Yudal-dong, ☏ +82 61 243 3399. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Regarded as Mokpo's top hotel. Rooms are mainly "ondol" floor-heated, or twin. ₩100,000, 50% discount during off-peak season. 
• 🌍 Hadang Boseok Sauna Jjimjilbang (하당보석사우나찜질방), 1000-4 Sang-dong (as you walk north from Lotte Cinema, you can see the sign on the left, behind other buildings, from the main street), ☏ +82 61-281-8102. Check-in: anytime, check-out: anytime. This jjimjilbang is next to a small park surrounded by buildings near the airport. The jjimjilbang clothing is very comfortable, but the common area is OK. The floor (in July) is hot enough to make you sweat. There are no floor mats, and the head rests are made of wood and uncomfortable. Try sleeping in an area up some stairs with a low ceiling, which has open windows and a cool floor, which is very comfortable. The restaurant is decent. There is a room for sleeping which has outlets for charging phones, but the air is stuffy. There is another jjimjilbang nearby, near Lotte Cinema. ₩12,000/night. 

To continue on to the islands to the south by bus, visitors must depart from the intercity bus terminal. A ticket on a coach bus to the island of Jindo costs ₩6,000 and the trip takes just over an hour. This bus runs every 30-45 minutes from 06:15 - 20:30

You may also want to consider a trip from the city's passenger ferry terminal, from which boats run to a dozen nearby islands, many of which are part of a marine national park. Heungdae (about ₩40,000 round trip) and Hongdo (about ₩75,000 round trip) are particularly beautiful.