National Maritime Museum

Top choice in Mokpo


This is the only museum in Korea dedicated to the country’s maritime history. The highlights are two shipwrecks, one dating from the 11th century and the other from the early 14th century. Thousands of priceless items of Korean and Chinese celadon, coins and other trade items were salvaged from them. Fascinating film footage shows the treasures being salvaged, and part of the actual boats has been preserved. It has excellent English signage.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mokpo attractions

1. Mokpo Natural History Museum

0.12 MILES

This museum is aimed at children, with large dinosaur skeletons, live lizards and fish, and thousands of colourful-but-dead butterflies.

2. Namnong Memorial Hall

0.13 MILES

This hall contains a collection of paintings by five generations of the Huh family, including work by Huh Gun, a master of Namjonghwa, a Korean art style…

3. Gatbawi Culture District

0.16 MILES

This area, 4km east of downtown, has a swathe of museums. Just past the museums are the riverside Gatbawi Rocks, which have been heavily eroded into…

5. Mokpo Culture & Arts Center

0.19 MILES

A grand four-floor atrium building that displays the work of local artists who work in all genres – from traditional ink to colourful modern splodges,…

6. Mokpo Modern History Museum

2.26 MILES

This museum is housed in the Mokpo branch of the Japanese Oriental Colonization Company, a building from the 1920s. It takes a hard look at the Japanese…

8. Yudalsan Park

2.78 MILES

Right on the coast, this park is filled with rocky cliffs and pavilions, with views across the island-scattered sea. Follow the main path for about 45…