Well-known for coastal rock walls comprised of wave-cut terrace, sea cliffs and costal caves, created through erosion by waves of sedimentary layers from a lake in the late Cretaceous period, it is Busan’s signature attraction for coastal views.
Top attraction with the landscape of various geological records of orbicular hornfels, slumping structures, dikes, faults and flower structures, including wondrous natural rock murals and a pebble beach; offering trail courses leading to coastal plant eco course, Taejongdae observation platform and Yeongdo marine culture space.
Introduce
Taejongdae is a landmark of Busan, showing various erosional landforms, such as sea cliffs, wave-cut platforms and sea caves created on the lacustrine sedimentary rocks at Late Cretaceous period. Marvelous geolgical sceneries such as orbicular hornfels, flower structure, slumps formed by earthquake are also found.
Origin of its name
“Taejongdae” located at the southeastern tip of Yeongdo is Busan’s scenic site well-known for its rocky coast representing Busan together with the Oryukdo Islands. Wave-cut cliffs extending as long as 100 meters, dense warm-temperate forests and undulating billows harmonize to create magnificent views. In particular, uplifted wave-cut terrace Sinseonam Rock below Yeongdo Lighthouse is Taejongdae’s signature attraction. Its formation traces back to the fourth and final interglacial period, about 120,000 years ago.
It is recorded in the Historical Remains section of 『Records of Dongnae-bu』 that “People can barely access Taejongdae due to a stone bridge on the west as the eastern sea turns in Jeoryeongdo, 12km south of our bu(town).” According to a story passed down orally, it is said that it was the place where King Taejong Muyeol of Silla shot an arrow and hit a drapery and was thus called Taejongdae. As it is said that in years of drought a rain calling ceremony was conducted, it is assumed that it was named such in relation to King Taejon Muyeol.
As an attraction with Taejongdae observation platform where the sound of waves crashing against coastal cliffs can be heard with views as far as Tsushima Island, Taejongdae has been frequented by poets and painters since old times. The flat rock below the lighthouse on the right is called Sinseonbawi Rock due to a story of Taoist immortals descending from heaven and having fun on the rock in ancient times. The lonely stone standing on Sinseonbawi Rock is called Mangbuseok due to a story of a legendary faithful wife who died and was turned to stone, anxiously waiting for her husband who was taken by Japanese pirates.
Name and history
“Taejongdae” located at the southeastern tip of Yeongdo is Busan’s signature scenic site. Wave-cut cliffs extending as long as 100 meters, warm-temperate dense forests and undulating billows harmonize to create magnificent views. At Taejongdae observation platform, the sound of waves crashing against coastal cliffs can be heard and on a fine day, views extend as far as Tsushima Island . According to a story passed down orally, it is said the name Taejongdae came from its being the place where King Taejong Muyeol of Silla practiced archery after finishing the arduous duty of unifying the Three Kingdoms.; the rock rising up like the thumb is called Mangbuseok and is said to have served as Sahu*
* Sahu: ten feet long and wide hemp cloth used as an archery target
Japanese colonial era
A military fortress for a long time, public access was restricted.
1967
Announced as an amusement park by the Ministry of Construction and Transportation
1969
Designated as a tourist attraction
1972
Designated as Busan Monument No. 28
1974
Began development in earnest with the confirmation of Taejongdae Amusement Park Development Plan, taking on the title of tourist attraction
2005
Designated as State-designated Cultural Property Scenic Site No. 17
Service fee : 2,000 won for adults/1,500 won for youths /1,000 won for children
Cruise
Quay
Lighthouse Cruise Quay 051) 405-3434
Taewon Cruise Quay 051) 403-9098
Gonpo Cruise Quay 051) 405-2900
Milky Way Cruise Quay 051) 405-3989
Operation hours : 09:00~18:00
Service fee : 10,000 won for adults/ 6,000 won for children
Representative vegetation
Arisaema ringens
Arisaema ringens, usually found in the shade of seaside trees, is poisonous plant belonging to Araceae genus. Arisaema ringens, compared to other Arisaema, has much larger leaves that are divided into three parts.
Palsoni (Glossy-leaf paper plant)
Palsoni, found in seaside forest shades, is an evergreen shrub belonging to the Ginseng family. Because leaves are usually divided into eight parts, looking like a hand, it was named Palsoni (eight hands).
Eurya japonica
Eurya japonica, an evergreen broad-leaved shrub belonging to tea family grows at the foot of seaside mountains in the south. Called “Ligustrum foliosum(Gasreginang in Korean)” on Jeju Island, from which its name Eurya japonica(Sasrepi in Korean) seems to originate. Its flowers smell like ammonia and have sterilizing and soothing effects. It is also said to help with air purification with great resistance to sulfurous acid gas.
Morus bombycis Koidz.
Morus bombycis Koidz a small deciduous tree belonging to the Moraceae family, grows across the Korean Peninisula. Its black fruit known as “mulberry” is delicious when ripe. Phellinus linteus is produced sometimes from the rotten stems of old mulberries.
Terminology
[Tuffaceous sedimentary layer]
Sedimentary rock formed by deposited sediments mixed with volcanic ash during the period after volcanic activity subsides
[Yuchon group]
formed during the invigorated volcanic activity period as one of the representative strata of the Mesozoic Era and comprised of andesite, rhyolitic dacite, rhyolite, lava of dacite, tuff and combined sedimentary rock.
[Volcanic breccias, alloclastic breccias]
Rock formed by unworn round shape sharpstone gathered with fine or neutral particles as coarse-grained clastic rock formed by volcanic eruptions
About 200 species of trees grow naturally around Taejongdae, including dense pine forests, warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved trees, Antipathes japonica, Japanese Cinnamo, Silver Mongolia and Eurya japonica. On the course leading from the entrance to the trail to the lighthouse, there is a vegetation trail providing explanation of the plants and oceanic organisms of Taejongde.
T5. Strike-slip fault · Flower structure
Check out the fault that penetrated the strata of sedimentary rocks that looks like rice cake steamers stacked in sequence, 10m southwest of the Natural History Exhibition Hall. The rocks around this fault were shattered due to fault movements. They bring up the image of flower bouquets as the shattered zone becomes wider to the top. The thick width of fault clay made by fault movements pulverizing rocks can be observed inside the shattered zone.
T6. Orbicular hornfels
Unique concentric patterns can be observed on the surface of the sedimentary rock that makes up the sea cliffs of Taejongdae. These are like dinosaur footprints at a glance, but are orbicular hornfels made through thermal metamorphism of sedimentary rocks. Orbicular hornhels are in various sizes from small (2~3cm) to large (l meter).
T7. Noth
During a stroll along the Taejongdae coastal cliffs, you will find deep grooves where the lower part of the cliffs meet the flat area below. These grooves, called noth, were made by wave erosion and rose up to the current location due to uplifting ground. Can you believe the place you are stepping on now was once at the surface of the sea?
T8. Slumping structure (natural mural)
Green, white and red rocks, mingling together on the coastal cliffs comprised of tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of Taejongdae Formation, create scenes like ink landscape paintings. Slumping structure or convoluted bedding is well-known as a natural mural crafted by sedimentary structures such as rip-up structure whereby lower strata torn upwards enters the rock fragments. Appreciate the natural murals with various patterns and name them on your own way.
T9. Wave-cut terrace · Coastal terrace
Taejongdae offers the most outstanding scenery of precipitous sea cliffs and flat wave-cut terraces arranged in tiers. Taejongdae(rock) refers to accessible wave-cut terrace. This place was named such because King Taejong Muyeol of Silla stayed there for a while, fascinated by the beautiful coastal scenery, and enjoyed archery here. Taejongdae(rock) ended up at its present height and location after the wave-cut terrace went through uplifting of the ground. Such topography is called coastal terrace and minimum five-tiered terrace is found here.
T10. Sinseonbawi Rock
Taejongdae used to be called Sinseonbawi (Sinseondae) due to the legend of fairies from heaven having fun on this rock. Today the rock on the right is called Sinseondae(rock) and the rock on the left Taejongdae(rock). These rocks get their terrace topography from uplifting of wave-cut terrace.
T11. Chlorite vein
Many small, thin, dark greenish veins appear in the tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of Taejongdae. These small veins are minerals comprised of a single mineral called chlorite. Veins are formed by precipitation of substances dissolved in hydrothermal solution into crystals when hydrothermal solutions are heated underground and interpenetrates along cracks in rocks.
T12. Sea cave
Small and large sea caves can be observed all along the coastal cliffs of Taejongdae. Such caves were formed as vulnerable rocks were worn away due to differential erosion by waves. Sea caves have become a great tourism source as Taejongdae’s representative coastal erosion-prone topography together with coastal cliffs and wave-cut terraces.
T13. Shingle beach (modern pebble beach)
Precipitous coastal cliffs create a magnificent view of the erosional coast of Taedjongdae. Pebbles between the coastal cliffs and the sea have round and smooth form due to abrasion while moving with the waves. Such pebbles are piled up by the waves, forming a shingle beach (modern form pebble beach). Precipitous coastal cliffs and round pebbles with the landscape of the South Sea are used as a resting place for comforting citizens’ minds and bodies fatigued from daily life.
T14. Compound dike
This unique form of dike can be found in Taejongdae. The two dark-colored dikes on both sides are andesitic dikes. With similar texture and mineral combinations of the two confirmed, they are deemed to have the same origin. The bright-colored dike between the two dikes is a rhyolitic dike. Thus, two or more dikes of different chemical and mineralogical compositions exposed together are called a compound dike.
T16. Syn-depositional dike
Many dark grayish andesitic dikes cutting stratification are observed in the tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of Tajongdae Formation. With the dikes at this point having the feature of irregular boundaries with surrounding rocks, traces of magma that partially got into surrounding sedimentary rocks like water drops can be observed. Such features indicate that they are syn-depositional dikes that interpenetrated before solidification of surrounding sedimentary rocks.
T17. Marine pothole
Small round puddles looking like dinosaur footprints appear on the flat wave-cut terrace on the seashore of Taejongdae. These puddles, called marine potholes, were created by pebbles transported to the sea that eroded the rock surface together with fluctuating waves.
T18. Andesitic dike
About a long body in 1m thickness appears on the cliffs This soaring dark grey body is a dike made by magma interpenetrating the cracks in rocks underground. The composition of magma that formed this dike is andesitic.
Visitors are wowed by the magnificent natural scenery of Taejongdae Amusement Park, located at the southernmost tip along Jeoryeongdo coast. King Taejong Muyeol of Silla, fascinated by this beautiful coastal scenery, frequented this place, from which its name Taejongdae originated.
Gyeongbu Highway → Guseo IC → Beonyeong-ro → Pier → Busan Main Customs → Busandaegyo Bridge → Yeongdo District Office → Korea Maritime and Ocean University → Taejongdae
Daegu-Busan Expressway → Samnak IC → Baegyang Tunnel → Sujeong Tunnel → Busan Main Customs → Busandaegyo Bridge → Yeongdo District Office → Taejongdae
Napo-dong Station on Metro line 1 – Get off at Busan Station (exit 7) – Transfer to bus 66, 88 and 101 – Get off at Taejongdae
When arriving at Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal
Sasang Station on Metro line 2 – Transfer to Line 1 at Seomyeon Station – Get off at Busan Station(exit 7) – Transfer to bus No. 66, 88 and 101
Train
도착 When arriving at Busan Railway Station
Busan Station (exit 7) on Metro line 1 – Transfer to bus 66, 88 and 101 – Get off at Taejongdae
City Tour Jumbo Bus
Busan Station(departure) – Yeongdodaegyo Bridge – Haneul observation platform – 75 Square – Taejongdae – National Maritime Museum – Busan Harbor Bridge (return point) – Oryukdo Islands – Yonghoman Bay Cruise Terminal – Peace Park – Songdo Beach – Nampo-dong BIFF Plaza – Jagalchi – Busan Station (end)
Fee
15,000 won for adults / 8,000 won for children and youths (48 months ~ high school students) / 2,000 won discount for group (15 or more)
Inquiry
051)714-3799
Event information
Trail course tour
The Igidae Cliff-Oryukdo Islands trail course is available for tours on a regular basis.
For visitor safety, please avoid visiting at night.
Information on festivals around attractions
*Please move left and right to check the contents.
명소주변 축제 정보
Festival name
Hosting month
Location
Official contact No.
Jeongwol Daeboreum Moon-Viewing Festival
the 15th of the New Year according to the lunar calendar
in Korea Maritime and Ocean University
051-419-5726
Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean missions to Japan) Festival
May
around Yongdusan Park
051-744-7707
Busan Port Festival
May
around International Cruise Terminal
051-501-6050
Taejongdae Hydrangea Festival
June
in Taejongsa Temple, Taejongdae
051-419-4062
Yeongdo Bridge Festival
September
around Yeongdodaegyo Bridge
051-419-4062
Busan Port Lighting Festival
Dec.~Jan.
around Yongdusan Park
051-231-2537
Information on tourist attractions
Jeoryeong Coastal Walkway
After passing through Yeongdo’s gateway, Yeongdodaegyo Bridge and Busandaegyo bridge, the 3km Jeoryeong Coastal Walkway starts on the path leading to the second Songdo seashore from the lower intersection. Once an inaccessible military reservation with steep and rough topography, it was later reopened for the public with a walkway for coastal tours. Different scenery on each curve of the walkway can be enjoyed against the backdrop of Tsushim Island and the vast sea towards Songdo with charming attractions and entertainment all around, including Korean traditional totem poles, stone pagodas, suspension bridges, a rose tunnel, a wave square and Rainbow Fountain.
051) 405-2004
Take exit 6 of Nampo Station on Metro line 1 and transfer to bus.
Intra-city bus No. 6, 7, 9, 9-1, 70, 71, 82, 85 and 508 → Get off at “Busan Healthcare High School”
National Maritime Museum
The world’s first comprehensive maritime museum and Korea’s third-largest, encompassing all maritime fields with the concept of “My Sea and Our Future” including maritime culture, history, figures, sea vessels, marine life, marine experience, maritime industry, maritime territory and ocean science.
The permanent exhibition halls house about 10,000 domestic and foreign relics, offering a glimpse into our future through the history of the ocean.
The Marine Life Hall exhibits a Touch Pool for first-hand experience of marine life and mini water tanks showing cultivation and the growth process of marine organisms.
The Maritime Library, providing the best ocean views, is equipped with a multi-media room and 15,000 special books which can be read remotely through network connection with the National Museum of Korea and the National Assembly Library.
The Children’s Library for 7 years old or under provides an ocean-themed magic performance three times a day(4 times on weekends) with the free program of “Drawing My Own Lighthouse.”
*Please move left and right to check the contents.
국립해양박물관 관람시간
Viewing hours
Weekdays
09:00-18:00
Saturday
(May-Aug.) 09:00-19:00
(May-Aug.) 09:00-21:00
Sunday, Holiday
09:00-19:00
The days following Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving Day),
Children’s Day,
National Liberation Day
09:00-21:00
051)309-1900
Take exit 6 of Nampo Station on Metro line 1 and transfer to bus
Shuttle bus Busan Station (subway exit 3, boarding) → Museum (bus stop, boarding and alighting) → Busan Station (subway exit 4, alighting)
*Please move left and right to check the contents.
셔틀버스 운행시간
Viewing hours
Weekdays
Saturday
Sunday ·Holiday
Departure from the museum
Departure from Busan Station
Departure from the museum
Departure from Busan Station
Departure from the museum
Departure from Busan Station
1
10:00
10:30
10:00
10:30
10:00
10:30
2
11:30
12:00
11:30
12:00
11:30
12:00
3
13:00
13:30
13:00
13:30
13:00
13:30
4
14:30
15:00
14:30
15:00
14:30
15:00
5
16:00
16:30
16:00
16:30
16:00
16:30
6
18:20
-
18:20
19:00
18:20
-
7
-
-
19:20
-
19:20
-
8
-
-
21:20
-
-
-
Intra-city bus No. 66 → Get off at “National Maritime Museum.”
Busan City Tour Bus for using Taejongdae loop → Get off at “National Maritime Museum”.
Busan bus No. 66 and City Tour Bus do not stop at [National Maritime Museum] to avoid traffic congestion on weekends and holidays.
Get off at [International Cruise Terminal].
