Old Town Mokpo

By Isaiah Winters

Mokpo is such a great little city. Its geography alone is impressive, with rocky Yudal-san bookending the city’s peninsular core and shielding residents from the yearly barrage of typhoons. The city also sits at the mouth of the massive Yeongsan River, which originates in Damyang-gun, passes through Gwangju and Naju, and disgorges on either side of Goha-do. During the days of occupation, the Japanese similarly found the city to be of significant strategic value, as evidenced by its many well-placed coastal tunnels dug in preparation for U.S. attacks.

On my latest visit, I did something a little more touristic than I usually do by walking through the older residential area nestled at the foot of Yudal-san. The twisted clutches of hanok and concrete homes yielded a few surprises and reminded me of the Yang-dong neighborhood back in Gwangju. The crooked alleyways, narrow staircases, and general zoning chaos made me appreciate the residents’ willingness to adapt, not to mention how far Korea has come in just a few decades. These are a few images from my ordinary visit to the old town and the excellent mountain towering above it all. Enjoy!

The Author

Born and raised in Chino, California, Isaiah Winters is a pixel-stained wretch who loves writing about Gwangju and Honam, warts and all. He particularly likes revisiting old haunts like Mokpo, a city he’d love to live in if only it had better beaches. You can find much of his photography on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju.