Dongpiran Mural Village

About Dongpiran Mural Village

Dongpiran was originally a settlement for refugees and low-income laborers who worked the docks after the Korean War. By the early 2000s, it was considered an eyesore by city planners who wanted to restore the Joseon-era Dongporu Pavilion that once stood on the summit. The 2007 mural initiative, led by the 'Tongyeong 21' civic group, invited students and artists to paint under the theme of 'life and hope.' The project was so successful that it sparked a nationwide 'mural village' trend, though Dongpiran remains the gold standard because of its authentic connection to the local fishing culture and its residents' active participation in the tourism economy.

Perched on a steep hillside overlooking the busy harbor of Tongyeong, Dongpiran Mural Village is a riot of color that was born from an act of defiance. What was once a crumbling slum slated for demolition has become a vibrant outdoor gallery where every wall tells a story. The name Dongpiran means 'east cliff,' and the neighborhood’s narrow, winding stairs offer some of the most panoramic views of the South Sea. It is a place where the salt air of the fishing port meets the scent of fresh paint, and where the gritty reality of a working-class neighborhood has been transformed by the imaginative brushstrokes of artists from across the country.

In 2007, the local government planned to raze the dilapidated houses of Dongpiran to build a park and reconstruct part of the historic city wall. Facing eviction, the residents and a local NGO launched a 'Mural Painting Festival' to prove the neighborhood had cultural value. The plan worked better than anyone expected. The influx of visitors and the international attention saved the village from the wrecking ball. To keep the energy fresh, the murals are repainted every few years, meaning the village you visit today will look different from the one you see in five years. This constant cycle of renewal has turned Dongpiran into a symbol of successful community-led urban regeneration in Korea.

Exploring Dongpiran is a vertical adventure. You feel the incline in your legs as you navigate the 'stairway to heaven' paths, but every turn reveals a new surprise—a giant pair of angel wings, a whimsical sea creature, or a poignant portrait of a local grandmother. The sounds of the harbor—the foghorns of fishing boats and the cries of seagulls—float up the hill, grounding the art in its maritime context. You notice the small details: a painted mailbox, a cat napping on a wall decorated with fish, and the laundry of residents drying next to a multi-million-won mural. Small cafes run by locals offer 'Ssanghwa-cha' (medicinal herb tea) and views that stretch across the shimmering water of the port below.

Tongyeong is accessible by express bus from Seoul or Busan. Once in the city, Dongpiran is located just behind the Jungang Market. You can walk from the harbor front up into the village in about ten minutes. The entrance is marked by a sudden transition from the gray concrete of the market to the bright pastels of the hillside. It is best to visit in the late morning when the sun illuminates the seaward-facing murals, then descend back into the market for a lunch of Tongyeong’s famous 'Chungmu Gimbap' (seaweed rice rolls served with spicy squid and radish).

The Experience

You hear the sound of wind chimes and the distant clatter of the fish market as you climb. The texture of the village is a mix of rough, weathered stone and smooth, painted plaster. You notice the way the light reflects off the colorful walls, giving the narrow alleys a warm, saturated glow even on overcast days. There is a playful, interactive element to the experience; you find yourself posing with 3D art or following a trail of painted footsteps. Despite the tourists, the village retains a lived-in feel, with the smell of grilled fish drifting from open kitchen windows and neighbors chatting across the painted lanes.

Why It Matters

Dongpiran is a landmark of social sustainability. It proves that art can be a powerful tool for social justice and that preserving a community’s heart is often more valuable than historical reconstruction. It has transformed Tongyeong from a sleepy fishing port into a major cultural destination, providing a blueprint for how struggling neighborhoods can reclaim their future through creativity and collective action.

Why Visit

Visit Dongpiran because it is a place of pure, unadulterated optimism. It lacks the self-serious atmosphere of many museums, offering instead a joyful, tactile engagement with art. It is the best place in Korea to see how the past and the future can coexist through a simple pot of paint and a lot of community spirit.