Tongyeong Drive Guide: Korea's Most Beautiful Port City by Rental Car

Tongyeong (통영) is consistently called Korea's most beautiful port city — the 'Naples of the East' — and it earns that nickname from a car window. The peninsula is compact enough to drive in a day, but dense enough in scenery that you'll want two. From the world's oldest undersea road tunnel to marine park viewpoints where islands seem to stretch forever, Tongyeong rewards drivers who leave the tour bus behind.

Getting to Tongyeong and Where to Park

Tongyeong is about 380 km south of Seoul — roughly 3.5 to 4 hours on the Gyeongbu Expressway to Busan, then west along the Namhae Expressway (Route 10). From Busan, it's a straight 70 km and about one hour. Tolls from Seoul run around 25,000–30,000 KRW depending on entry point.

Parking in central Tongyeong costs around 1,000–2,000 KRW per hour at surface lots near the harbor and Dongpirang Village. The best strategy: park early near the Tongyeong Central Market or at the Nammanggongwon underground lot, then use your car to drive between the outlying coastal viewpoints in the afternoon.

• From Seoul: ~380 km, 3.5–4 hours via Gyeongbu → Namhae Expressway
• From Busan: ~70 km, about 1 hour via Route 14
• Toll: ~25,000–30,000 KRW from Seoul (Hi-Pass accepted)
• Central parking: Nammanggongwon underground lot, ~1,500 KRW/hour
• GPS tip: Search '통영 남망산공원' (Nammanggongwon) for the best central parking

The Hallyeohaesang Marine Park Coastal Loop

The real reason to drive Tongyeong is Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park (한려해상국립공원), which wraps around the city and encompasses over 68 islands. The land-based drive along the park perimeter gives you a succession of sea views that rival anything in Korea. Start at Donamgwan (도남관광단지) on the eastern tip of the peninsula — there's free parking and a sweeping panorama of the island archipelago.

From Donamgwan, the coastal loop continues south through Sado, where a small fishing village sits at the base of forested cliffs, then swings west along Routes 14 and 1002. These are narrow roads — two lanes at best — and they're spectacular for it. Allow about 2 to 2.5 hours for the full coastal loop, including stops at viewpoints. The loop is roughly 40 km from the city center and back.

• Donamgwan start: Free parking, viewpoint open 24 hours
• Road: Route 14 south to coastal loop (narrow but paved, suitable for standard rental cars)
• Loop length: ~40 km round trip from Tongyeong city center
• Best time: Clear mornings or late afternoon for island silhouettes
• Fuel note: Fill up in the city center — no stations on the coastal loop

The Tongyeong Undersea Tunnel

One of Tongyeong's best-kept driving secrets is the Tongyeong Undersea Tunnel (통영 해저터널), built in 1932 under Japanese colonial rule. At 483 meters long, it was the first undersea road tunnel in East Asia and is still in use today. You can drive through it — it connects the mainland to Mireukdo (미륵도) island, where the cable car base station is located.

The tunnel is single-lane in each direction and short enough that most first-timers are surprised to emerge on the other side before they expect it. There is no toll. Once on Mireukdo, the road climbs through pine forests toward the cable car station and the Skyline Luge. The island is where the majority of Tongyeong's outdoor attractions are concentrated — and it's only accessible by the tunnel or by a bridge a few kilometers north.

Skyline Luge and the Mireuksan Viewpoint

Skyline Luge Tongyeong (스카이라인 루지 통영) sits on Mireukdo island, a short drive from the undersea tunnel exit. It's a gravity-powered cart track that winds down the hillside with sea views throughout — popular with families but genuinely fun for adults too. Tickets run 18,000–24,000 KRW per person depending on how many runs you buy.

Just above the luge is the base station of the Tongyeong Cable Car (통영 케이블카), which ascends Mireuksan (461 m) for 360-degree views over the entire Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park. If you only have time for one, the cable car wins for sheer scale — but it can have 60-to-90-minute queues on weekends. The luge is rarely crowded before 11 AM.

• Skyline Luge: 18,000–24,000 KRW per person, open 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
• Cable Car: 15,000 KRW adult round trip, last ride 5:50 PM
• Parking: Free lot at the Skyline Luge / cable car complex
• Crystal gondola: Optional glass-floor gondola, +2,000 KRW (worth it)
• Drive from tunnel exit: About 5–7 minutes via Route 1002

Hansando Island: A Short Ferry from Tongyeong

Hansando Island (한산도) sits 15 minutes by ferry from Tongyeong's passenger terminal, and it's where Admiral Yi Sun-sin famously defeated the Japanese navy in 1592 using his 'crane wing' formation. The Yi Sun-sin Memorial (제승당) is a peaceful complex of pavilions and a reconstructed command post, free to enter, with a walking trail that overlooks the very waters where the battle happened.

You can't drive onto Hansando — leave your car at the Tongyeong passenger terminal (around 2,000 KRW/hour to park) and take the ferry. The round trip ferry costs about 8,200 KRW. Ferries run every 30 to 60 minutes. Allow 2 to 3 hours total. The island is quiet, uncrowded, and completely different in character from the busy harbor city — well worth the detour if you're staying overnight.

Suggested Tongyeong Driving Itinerary

1. 18:30 AM — Arrive and park at Nammanggongwon. Walk Dongpirang murals before the crowds arrive
2. 29:30 AM — Drive through the Tongyeong Undersea Tunnel to Mireukdo island
3. 310:00 AM — Tongyeong Cable Car (arrive early to avoid queues) or Skyline Luge
4. 412:00 PM — Lunch at Tongyeong Central Market: oysters, kkulppang, and Chungmu-gimbap
5. 51:30 PM — Drive the Hallyeohaesang Marine Park coastal loop (~2 hours with stops)
6. 63:30 PM — Optional: Take the ferry to Hansando Island (2–3 hours) if staying overnight
7. 75:30 PM — Return to harbor area for sunset views over the South Sea

FAQ

Tongyeong rewards drivers who take their time. Drive through the undersea tunnel at least once, let the marine park roads surprise you, and find a spot on the waterfront at dusk when the city lights start to reflect across the South Sea. Book your rental car, set your GPS for Nammanggongwon, and let Korea's most beautiful port city unfold at your speed.