Pohang city- main seaport of Daegu-Gyeongbuk region-has the largest population of North Gyeongsang Province and has the third-largest land area of any city in Korea. When looking across the ocean at Yeongildae Beach, one could see a peculiar sight in that, there is an endless horizon. This short article will highlight a must go place-Homigot.
It is my one of my favorite recommendation to everyone should you spend a few days in Pohang. I went there three separate times with different groups of people and couldn’t resist the invitation not to go if I had had the fourth suggestion. This place cannot be enjoyed in one visit; at least it wasn’t for me in 2017. If relaxing is what you want to do when you travel, then you just found a place you will consider relaxing.
For me as a student in Pohang, instead of burying my head in endless hours of studies, these refreshing trips were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Where is Homigot
Homigot is a large stretch of hillside beside the beach. It is located at the easternmost end of the Korean peninsula, in what is thought to be the tail of the tiger based on geography. This is why it has gained its Chinese characters of the tiger tail land.
When Kim Jeong-ho made the Daedongyeojido Map – the most important and oldest map in Korea, he visited Homigot seven times to confirm the geography. This was during the Joseon dynasty era. He confirmed that this was the easternmost part of South Korea.
Generally, the earliest sunrise can be witnessed at Homigot. Also, the annual Homigot Sunrise Festival takes place on New Year’s morning. I was not able to participate in any of the festivals during my two-year stay in Pohang. Though I visited thrice at different seasons of the year—summer, winter and spring—a Korean friend suggested the best is summer before Korean Independence Day. The main reason is that swimming is not suitable around that time of the year. That’s as a result of the cold water from Siberia, which starts moving down the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula. On all my trips, I didn’t swim, mainly because I was interested in soaking up the fresh sea breeze rather than getting wet.
When is the best time to go to Homigot?
Every time could be great, but the sunrise effect is different in some seasons based on the hours. It takes about an hour or more to drive from the downtown city center to Homigot.
As per the weather, it is best to check the forecast before you begin the trip. Frequent rain can ruin the whole trip. That will also cause the ocean view to be foggy or not bright enough.
Except things have changed now; as of 2019, when I left the city, there was no direct public transportation. You will have to take several buses and wait long minutes at bus stops, as my friends and I did on my last visit there. The best option is to rent a car or carpool with friends for an easy ride.
Some Pohang people say to begin the trip early to avoid the morning rush hour or afterward. That means 6 a.m. will be perfect to catch the early sunrise. There are two large platforms in front of the Hand of Coexistence, one at the bottom and one at the top. The best photo spots are on the left side of the gigantic sculpture.
Right after the sun peaks its radiance above the horizon, the bottom platform has the best photo view because the angle of the sun is positioned right in-between the thumb and index fingers. On the contrary, as the sun starts to rise above the horizon, you need to shift your position to the upper platform if you want some lovely pictures. I had so much fun taking pictures all around Homigot.
What was my first trip experience?
This was an open invitation by two of my Professors’ wives. They were so kind to offer an American exchange student – Regan and I this exciting adventure. I remember saying yes before, one of them completed the sentence. On this trip, we arrived early and walked along the beach enjoying all the sites. It was especially unique because we had the rare opportunity to see and talk to some divers. I was somehowe surprised because I saw female divers for the first time. They had just come back to land after a long deep dive. They and many people, dive into the large ocean on days with no strong tides, harvest seaweed and bring to land. These seaweed are then salted, dried and sold to the public.
By this time, I had eaten seaweed countless times and liked it, but I had no idea how it was caught. I was really intrigued to see how soft and brownish they look when fresh.
What is in the Homigot museum?
As soon as you alight from your car in the large parking lot, you have to walk to Homigot Sunrise Square. From there, everyone can see two big sculptures of a human hand. The right hand is in the middle of the sea, and the left hand is on the opposite side of the shore. They both symbolize harmony between humanity and society.
Just beside the beach, there is a lighthouse and a museum. These are some of the highlights of Homigot. During one of my trips, my friends and I spent a lot of time inside the museum, reading and looking at old artifacts of Korean history. It was great to see pictures from pre-war, war, and post-war. The differences are huge and incomparable. I remember just saying wow in surprise almost all the time as I took walks around the large displayed items.
How was my second trip?
I am not the kind who likes to go to the same place twice. I always say its a waste of my time and money. But when I got offered this free trip by my African friends, I couldn’t bring myself to deny. This was at no cost of mine except my smile. I gladly hopped into their car and was ready for the exploit again. I hadn’t had enough of this beautiful beach hotspot.
In this trip, we went to the top of the largest building and enjoyed the view of the whole area. I remember the fresh air was so strong I thought it will root out my hair from my scar. That was in September 2018, so the Spring was just beginning. Though the sun was bright in the skin, the heat rays weren’t so voilent on our bodies.
Can you eat at Homigot?
That was the first question that popped into my mind when I had to leave very early with friends to visit Homigot for the first time. I wondered if, after my tour, there would be something to bite and relax with. Amazingly, there was too much for me to enjoy.
There is a line of orange tents at the far end. They are called ‘Pocha’ in Korean. This is a small tent-like food cart where snacks or food are sold. My Korean friends said the best menu was Woul Nyu’s Seafood Pocha. There, they sell spicy seafood ramen and the famous Korean pancakes.
Since they put in a generous amount of fresh seashells, cuttlefish, and seasonal seafood, the taste is unique and delicious. Though the Pocha has only nine tables and can accommodate a maximum of thirty customers, everyone can eat. I suggest you start your lunch earlier rather than waiting in line, as I saw some people wait for almost an hour. My friends and I took snacks and had picnics, so we didn’t have to wait or spend a lot of time and money here.
Generally, the cost of food ranges from five thousand to fifty thousand Korean won. That doesn’t mean everyone can’t have a taste of Homigot food. A tasty plate of ramen can cost five thousand won ($4) while a bigger seafood pancake will cost you fifteen thousand Korean won ($13)
Are you interested in eating snow crabs? There are restaurants all over the area where you can try them. However, they are seasonal. So you can be sure to let your taste buds rejoice if you go there between November – April.
My last Homigot visit
This trip was one of the longest and most fun. My friends from Seoul came to visit me in Pohang and I couldn’t resist not showing them the beautiful sunrise place. I admit we went there late that day because of the time wasted at bus stops but we were still able to laugh at ourselves for miscalculating the time and enjoyed the day regardless. It was a bright sunny day with the ocean view as blue as the color can be. Though we took a short time to sit on the large concrete blocks at the edge of the ocean, it was a few hours of just resting after school.
This day was special because we were able to see countless white birds enjoying the ocean like us. They seem to galavant the ocean top without drowing as they walk ontop of the water or seat on rock.
By February 2019 when I last went there, the reputable steel company- Posco had built a beautiful art wall made of steel. It was a large surface perfect for pictures. We had so much fun imitating the designed people movements and just enjoying the winter evening sunset.
In all the trips, I was happy taking pictures infront of the massive street clock. I always looked at it and imagined starting the new year there. I heard there is always a count down on the 31st of December to break the new year, but was never fortunate to begin the year that way. That should be fascinating to watch the final thick and hear the cheers.
Whether we were pretending to be friends with the small human statutue or just strolling around lost in the crowd, this was a perfect relaxation for us.
End your trip at Mocambo Café
Before you call it a day, you can take a stop near Guryongpo Beach and enjoy time at the rooftop Mocambo café. The ocean view from here cannot be described in words. Whether you are swallowing fruity ice cream or sipping on brewed coffee, you will enjoy this spacious facility. The ocean water here is very clean and clear, making it perfect even for foot dipping.
In conclusion, I cannot promise this is all you will see if you go to Homigot now. The Korean government, via all city councils, is intentional about developing their cities. I cannot claim to assure you what you will enjoy there in 2023, but I can almost guarantee you will have more to see. There is always innovation, and I know there must have been a few in the past few years.
Please comment and tell me about your experience.
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