Mokpo Itinerary 2026: Best Retro Spots & Local Food
Planning a summer trip to Mokpo? Discover a perfect walking itinerary from Mokpo Station, featuring historic rival bakeries, retro cafes, and K-drama spots.
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Planning a summer trip to Mokpo? Discover a perfect walking itinerary from Mokpo Station, featuring historic rival bakeries, retro cafes, and K-drama spots.
A quick summary by someone who lived in Mokpo for 2.3 years!
The ultimate Mokpo itinerary for your summer getaway 〰️〰️〰️
They say food is the most important part of traveling (right? 😉)
In that sense, traveling to Namdo (the southern region) is a dream—
You can walk into absolutely any restaurant without worrying about the quality,
because incredible flavor is always 100% guaranteed! ‼️
But of course, to eat all this delicious food,
we need to get moving and work up an appetite first...
Must-visit spots near Mokpo Station
Colombang Bakery - Ssukgulle - Taedong Banjeom
- Mokpo Modern History Museum (Hotel Del Luna filming site)
If you're arriving in Mokpo by train,
I highly recommend starting with this itinerary right from Mokpo Station! 💓
A hot spot you can find right outside Mokpo Station:
Cafe Hokho
My honest, self-funded review of Cafe Hokho near Mokpo Station!
📍 Colombang Bakery
7 Yeongsan-ro 75beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Colombang Bakery
Just like Jeonju has Veteran and Geumam Myeonok,
Mokpo has Colombang Bakery and CLB Bakery.
They're located so close to each other
that you might wonder, "Wait, aren't they the same place?"
or feel like it's a deliberate rivalry.
There's an ongoing debate about which one is the "original."
According to local rumors,
Colombang Bakery is the 1949 original,
and CLB was opened by a former member of Colombang who went independent.
(Take this with a grain of salt, as it's not officially confirmed!...)
Which one is better? It honestly comes down to personal preference.
I highly recommend buying from both and doing a taste test to find your favorite! ^,~
(Ultimately, both are hugely successful anyway.)
(But for the record, my personal favorite is Colombang!)
They recently renovated the dine-in cafe space,
bringing out a much cooler, retro vibe.
Though, I'm a bit sad they discontinued their milkshakes...
This was what Colombang looked like when I first visited back in 2018...
Vintage greatness!
📍 Ssukgulle
43-1 Yeongsan-ro 59beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Ssukgulle (#Ssukgulle), a unique treat you can only find in Mokpo!
Ssukgulle, Ssukgulle...
It sounds a bit like the famous Emile Bell, such a cute name!
Just look at how many Blue Ribbon Survey (Korea's Michelin guide equivalent) stickers they have...
It's a dessert made of sweet mugwort rice cakes drizzled with grain syrup.
They're also famous for their tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).
They've put some effort into their coffee menu too,
using high-quality beans from Lowkey Coffee!
(Shoutout to illustrator Inbeom, the artwork is amazing! ‼️)
But we can't survive on dessert alone.
Time for a proper meal!
📍 Taedong Banjeom
10-1 Maingyeteo-ro 40beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Taedong Restaurant (#TaedongBanjeom)
Featured on popular Korean food shows like Pungja's "Toganjib" and Huh Young-man's "Alumni Voyage,"
it's been featured all over TV and YouTube.
It's a legendary Mokpo spot you simply can't miss!
Certified as an "Excellent Good-Price Store," it's incredibly budget-friendly.
If you order Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), they give you Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) as a free side.
If you order Jjamppong, they give you Jajangmyeon.
And if you order a couple of dishes, they might even throw in some Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)!
The generosity of the owners here is next-level.
"Jungkan" (a unique Mokpo-style Jajangmyeon) was my very first meal in Mokpo back in 2018.
The noodles are much thinner than standard jajangmyeon, which makes it so much tastier!
Currently, the price for jajangmyeon is just ~$4‼️
📍 Bandisbyeol (Firefly Star)
36 Haean-ro 173beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Mokpo's self-service souvenir & lifestyle shop,
Bandisbyeol
Located right near the Modern History Museum,
it's the perfect place to pop in for a quick browse after sightseeing.
They even sell pretty tableware!
Bongbong stickers—this cat looks exactly like my kitty, Tangi!
From plushies and squishies to keyrings and keycaps...
They have absolutely everything you could think of!
A lucky turtle charm...
Why am I the only one without one? 🥺
A baseball keyring that makes the perfect gift for hardcore baseball fans.
Kia Tigers and Jamsil fans, are you watching? ⚾️
And a keyring for just ~$2!
Wait, what is this...?
It looks suspiciously like official HYBE merch lol.
Make sure to fully explore all the way to the back!
"Rain is falling on the Honam Liineee~~ 🎶"
"Inside the southbound train 🚂 peering through the shaking window..."
"Eussya-ra-syara, syara-syara! 💃"
Namhaeng Yeolcha (Southbound Train) 1914
And now, we're heading over to Mokpo Modern History Museum Hall 1,
the famous filming location of the K-drama 'Hotel Del Luna'!
(A lot of senior tour packages visit here...
and a grandpa literally let one rip right in front of me... Poot! 💨‼️)
📍 Mokpo Modern History Museum Hall 1
6 Yeongsan-ro 29beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
There's an admission fee, so make sure to get your money's worth and look around thoroughly!
And don't forget to check out the air-raid shelter located right behind the building.
📍 Back to the Mokpo
2F, 33 Yeongsan-ro, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
There's a photo zone, and I think the indoor exhibition was about ~$3...
but we didn't feel the need to go inside.
But you absolutely have to snap a photo in front of the yellow taxi! 🚕
The back alley of Mokpo Station feels like a place where time has completely stood still...
On the way to Hangdong Market
📍 Boyhood Study Room of Kim Dae-jung
8 Mokpojin-gil 11beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
📍 Mokpojin Historical Park
11 Mokpojin-gil 9beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Happened to stumble upon the Boyhood Study Room of former President Kim Dae-jung
Warning: Extremely steep stairs!
They say there's a study room up there, should we go check it out?
"I think I can manage these stairs..."
Thinking "this must be the end of the climb," we successfully made it!
Haha 😂
Wrapping up our exploration at Mokpojin Historical Park!
From Jangteo Restaurant in the raw fish market,
to #Yeongran_Hoe_House near Mokpo Port, famous for its delicious croaker sashimi,
and even #Yeonhuine_Super, a filming location for the movie '1987'—
there is so much to see around Mokpo Station and Mokpo Port!
Now, let's head over to the area around the bus terminal for dinner! 🥂
Top Places to Visit Around Peace Square & Mokpo Bus Terminal
📍 Cheongho Market
Cheongho Market, 28 Seokhyeon-ro, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
The incredible pike eel (Hamo) shabu-shabu at Cheongho Market's #Nanyeong_Susan
And now, the cold raw fish soup (Mulhoe) season is officially in full swing,,☺️
After eating your fill, you can grab some rice cakes, street food, or jokbal (pig's trotters) at the market,
and you can even order
fermented skate (hongeo) for nationwide delivery! ‼️
Next stop: Peace Square...
Operating from April through November,
the Mokpo Dancing Sea Fountain!
I feel like the song selection really makes or breaks the vibe...
Will it be mind-blowing or just okay?
Please play some BTS songs! Pleeeease!
If the water jets shot up to the beat of "Run BTS,"
it would be absolutely legendary...
(Maybe that's why they don't play it... too intense? haha)
Once you've enjoyed the sea fountain show,
you'll find yourself surrounded by a whole street of lively bars.
Grab a drink at whichever spot catches your eye, head back to your room,
and you've got yourself a perfectly blissful Mokpo itinerary!
I stayed here for 3 nights (2 nights self-paid + 1 night sponsored) —
Peace Square Hotel
My review of the Cloud Inn Hotel
can be found in the post linked below! 👀
Mokpo Peace Square Hotel: Cloud Inn Hotel 3-Night 4-Day Stay Review
Make sure to lock in your booking
before Mokpo hotels sell out! 💓
Agoda Official Site | Free Cancellation & Booking Deals | Over 2 Million Hotels
Whether you take the bus or the train,
Mokpo is such a fantastic place to travel!
(I just wish it were a tiny bit closer to home, though... haha)
Currently, the price of Jajangmyeon at Taedong Banjeom is ~$4. When you order Jajangmyeon, Jjamppong is served as a complimentary dish. A unique feature is that if you order a variety of items, they also provide Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) or other dishes for free.
The signature items are Tteokbokki and Ssukkulle, a dessert made of sweet rice cakes drizzled with grain syrup. They also sell coffee beverages made with Lowkey coffee beans.
You must pay a separate admission fee to enter Mokpo Modern History Hall No. 1. After touring the inside of the building, it is highly recommended not to forget to check out the air-raid shelter located at the back.
No. The Dancing Sea Fountain at Peace Square only operates from April to November each year. You can watch the fountain's water jets shoot up in sync with the selected music.
At Cheongho Market, you can purchase Hamo shabu-shabu (pike eel hot pot) and Mulhoe (spicy raw fish soup), as well as rice cakes, street food (bunsik), and jokbal (braised pigs' feet). For fermented skate, you can buy it on-site or order it for parcel delivery.
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