Daewangam Park

Daewangam is a headland on Ulsan's eastern shore covered in old black pine - around fifteen thousand trees planted from the early twentieth century, now a dense dark wood with paths through it - ending in a cluster of reddish rocks in the sea. A steel suspension bridge crosses to the outermost rock, which by tradition is the resting place of the queen of King Munmu of Silla, who is said to have become a dragon to guard the coast after her husband did the same at his sea tomb up the shore; there is no evidence for the burial and the story is a local one. The rocks are worn into arches and hollows with the sea running through them, and the sunrise here is one of Ulsan's set pieces. A coastal walk continues to Ilsan beach and to the Ulgi lighthouse, a white tower of 1906 with a small museum. The shipyards across the bay are part of the view and part of the city. The bridge to the rock was built in 1995, and a moonlight festival has been held in the park each autumn since 2012.

The landscape

• The red rocks - the sea-worn outcrops at the point.
• The suspension bridge - the crossing to the outer rock.
• The pine wood - fifteen thousand black pines on the headland.
• Ulgi lighthouse - the 1906 tower along the coast walk.

When to go

April to June and September to November; sunrise is the classic time. The bridge closes in high wind and rough seas.

Practical notes

The bridge and rock paths close in bad weather. Rocks are slippery and unfenced in places. The industrial waterfront across the bay is part of the view, which not everyone expects.

Nearby

Ilsan beach and the lighthouse are along the coast walk; Ganjeolgot is south.

Key facts