Pohang

Korea's steel city meets the sea — Pohang balances its identity as a global industrial powerhouse with some of the East Sea's most dramatic coastline, including the country's most famous sunrise spot and a thriving raw fish culture.

Must-Visit Places

• Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장) — Korea's most celebrated sunrise destination; a giant bronze hand sculpture rises from the sea at the country's easternmost tip, drawing thousands on New Year's Day
• Bogyeongsa Temple & Waterfall Valley (보경사) — A serene mountain temple surrounded by 12 waterfalls and lush forest, ideal for a summer day trip
• Jukdo Market (죽도시장) — One of the East Coast's largest fish markets; raw fish restaurants on the upper floors serve the freshest hoe platters imaginable
• Yeongildae Beach (영일대해수욕장) — The city's main beach with a striking observation pier stretching 500m over the sea
• POSCO Museum (포스코 역사관) — Fascinating look at how a single steel mill transformed a fishing village into a modern industrial city

Food & Dining

• Mulhoe (물회) — Pohang's signature dish: raw fish in icy cold spicy broth, eaten like a soup or poured over rice; refreshing and addictive
• Gwamegi (과메기) — Half-dried frozen Pacific saury or herring, a coastal winter delicacy unique to this stretch of coast; eaten wrapped in seaweed and kimchi
• Hoe Platter (회모둠) — Ultra-fresh sashimi at Jukdo Market's second-floor restaurants, paired with spicy dipping sauces
• Daegui (대게구이) — Grilled snow crab legs; the nearby port of Guryongpo is famous for snow crab season (winter–spring)

Must-Buy Shopping

• Gwamegi — Vacuum-packed half-dried saury; the quintessential Pohang souvenir, especially in winter
• Snow Crab Products (대게) — Processed crab meat and seasoned roe from Guryongpo's crab markets
• Dried Seafood Bundles — Dried squid, anchovies, and seaweed from Jukdo Market
• Homigot Sunrise Merchandise — Ceramic figurines and prints of the iconic hand sculpture, sold at the cape's gift shops