7 Best Family Things to Do in Pohang

The Pohang Ship Experience is home to the former ROKS Pohang, a 1178-ton patrol ship that is a sister ship to the ROKS Cheonan, which was sunk in a North Korean attack. Launched in December 1984 and retired on June 30, 2009, ROKS Pohang was a ship that supported anti-espionage operations and rear area security by conducting nearly 250 missions over its life. This venerable veteran, which also sunk a North Korean armed vessel that intruded beyond the Northern Limit Line, has now entered the second stage of its life as an educational exhibition.

Considering that this ship belongs to the same class of ships as the ROKS Cheonan, a symbolic reminder of the tension between the two Koreas, the ROKS Pohang is a great place to take your children to teach them about the value of peace. The statue of the late Lieutenant Han Joo-ho, who fell in duty while searching for the sunken Cheonan, and the memorial room for the 46 fallen sailors remind us that Korea is still in a state of ceasefire. The onboard experience hall, where you can see the life of the soldiers on board, offers a meaningful glimpse into the life in navy.

The National Lighthouse Museum preserves various artifacts and tells colourful stories about the lighthouses that guide ships on the sea. Modern lighthouses and other navigation signs were introduced to Korea during the late 1800s, and have contributed to the development of maritime traffic and industry ever since. If you look around the exhibition hall, which is divided into indoor and outdoor spaces, you can find more information on how people travel on the sea.

At the Heritage Hall, you can see various documents and equipment related to lighthouses and route signs, and at the Experience Hall, you can experience various things related to the sea and sailing through analogue and digital methods. The outdoor exhibition features life-size displays of air siren trumpets, air compressors, light buoys, and buoys. From the children's lighthouses to lighthouse camps and museum stamp tours, there's plenty of programs for the entire family that you can reserve.

Guryongpo Modern History Museum is housed in a two-story wooden house formerly owned by Zengichi Hashimoto, who came from Japan in the 1920s to Pohang. In 1923, Japan sanctioned the port of Guryongpo and took over the fishing rights of the East Sea, drawing Japanese colonists to the area. Hashimoto likewise accumulated wealth through exploitation of the fisheries with four fishing vessels. Look around the well-decorated houses and see the contrast with the stories of Koreans, whose exploitation financed the wealth in the house, to instil children with a proper sense of history.

This wooden house has significant architectural value as well as historical significance. Built with building materials imported from Japan, the first floor of the house has an immaculately preserved master bedroom, traditional Japanese kitchen, and toilet. The window sills on the second floor, which were used in rooms housing the daughters and the reception room, embody the fashion used in wealthy houses at that time, and the Japanese-style ventilation windows, Ranma, demonstrate the emphasis that traditional Japanese houses place on ventilation. In addition, wooden gates and decorative pillars that have retained their original form even after more than 100 years have become valuable historic materials for today's research.

Homigot Sunrise Plaza is a plaza located at the eastern end of the Korean Peninsula, which corresponds to the tail when the Korean peninsula is drawn in the shape of a tiger. Along with Cape Ganjeolgot in Ulsan, it is famous as the place that sees the earliest sunrise in Korea. Although it varies depending on the season, Pohang's Homigot has more days when the sunrise takes place first. Don't forget to take a photo of the Hand of Coexistence, which was sculpted in bronze in 1999 and has become a symbol of this place. Raise your arms and place the bronze hand above your hem for a humorous photo, or capture the red sun rising between your fingers.

Homigot is also known as the setting for the legend of Yeonorang and Seonyeo. Find the sculptures of the two mythical figures, and tell children about how they went to Japan and became kings and queens in the story. If you came here with your family in time for sunrise, wish each other good health and happiness. The faces of your loved ones, illuminated in the golden light of the sunrise, will be a part of an unforgettable moment for the rest of your life.

The 711.3-metre-high Naeyeonsan Mountain is known for its majestic presence, seemingly bigger than its actual height, and the 12 beautiful waterfalls. Just looking at the elevation, it is not a very tall mountain. Its location on the coast, however, makes it appear higher than other similar mountains. After passing Bogyeongsa Temple at the entrance of the hiking trail, walk about 1.5 km further to come face to face with Sangsaeng Falls, Bohyeon Falls, Sambo Falls, and Jamnyong Falls in quick succession. Jamnyong Falls is known among classical film buffs as the place where the bathing scene of the film “North Korean Partisan In South Korea” was filmed.

For the best view, you have to climb up to Gwaneum Falls and Yeonsan Falls. Yeonsan Falls, also called the 7th Falls, has a strong current and a large drop, which create a majestic sound and appearance. The road from Bogyeongsa Temple to Yeonsan Falls takes around two hours, but the trail is well-maintained and the trail is not too steep, so it is perfect for the entire family, from children to the elderly, to enjoy nature and take care of their health.

Pohang Steel Yard is the home stadium of the Pohang Steelers, a prestigious club representing Asia's greatest football league, the K League. Opened in 1990 as the first stadium in Korea to be dedicated to football, this stadium with a capacity of 25,000 people, allows you to enjoy the thrilling games without any obstructions from any seat. In particular, the distance between the ground and the spectators is only 6m, so you can hear everything, even the rough breathing and shouts of the players.

A sports game for the whole family with delicious food in an open space is a great way to make precious memories. After all, how many of us have been set on the path toward our lifelong passions by parents leading us to stadiums when we were young? After watching the game with your children, do not immediately go home. Instead, make you way to the area in front of the North Gate Plaza, where team buses are parked. You can get autographs from the players returning from the game and, if you're lucky, take a picture with them. Seeing a child happy after receiving an autograph from his or her favourite player is an image of happiness that cannot be exchanged for money.