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Start
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Mt. Mireuk
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Miraesa Temple
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Haean-Nurigil
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Dala Observatory
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Chungmugimbap
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Hansando
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Myulchi Maeul Sikdang
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Dongpirang Village
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Jungang Market
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Finish
The best mural village in Korea - Tongyeong Dongpirang Village 동피랑마을
There are only a few mural villages that have been a success in Korea. Tourists do not visit villages just because there are a few pretty paintings on the walls, they also need to provide cultural sensitivity, natural environment, cultural icons, and other societies that are shared with tourists. In this respect, Dongpirang Mural Village is excellent in these things and I believe that's why it has been the best success in Korea.
Dongpirang is a dialect word for 'birang(slope) on the east.' The village which was supposed to be demolished for redevelopment successfully turned into a cultural space, and cannot disappear now in Tongyeong tourism business. Low-income families are still living in this province, and it has 1-pyeong cafe that a grandmother and a grandfather runs, a small store that sells junk food and a gift shop (small shop) selling works of young and new artists as souvenirs that which turned into the completely different, fun alley.
On the uphill to Dongpirang Village, I noticed writings that don't look common. You can't notice it until you stand far from it and tilt your head a little. It says “You can see the whole world if your mind stands straight".
Pretty paintings are welcoming us like they are telling us this is it, the mural village.
The colorful houses located up on the hill look like a part of this beautiful art.
Dongpirang UCC red mailbox at the entrance to the village! You could take a picture and mail it here with your handwriting. I tried it and I liked the photo mail with pretty design and good quality. You should try once! :)
The mural paintings were in high quality with proper help of neighboring geographic features. This one looks like a zoo in the forest.
There are trick art paintings on the ground here and there as well. You might as well take funny pictures with your friends.
Shall we climb up to the village while we take a look at the pretty paintings?
This one seems new since it's from the animation Frozen.
This place used to have Dongporu (東砲樓) of Tongjaeyeong (統制營) installed in Hansando Island by Admiral Yi Sun-sin (李舜臣) in Joseon Dynasty era, and Tongyeong-si once was about to demolish this old Dongpirang village and build a park. Then, a non-government organization called 'Pureun Tongyeong 21' started to hold the 'Painting Dongpirang village - National Mural Contest' in order to introduce public art into this place, and 18 teams including individual artists and college students from the whole nation started to paint the murals here.
This new born village on everyone's tongue became popular. Tourists started to gather, a consensus was formed arguing this village should be preserved, Tongyeong-si decided to cancel the demolishment plan assuming that the village would be beneficial to the development of regional economy, and it eventually became the No.1 tourist attraction in Tongyeong. That's how the bastion remains on the same spot after the three houses were pulled down.
Tongyeong Port from the bastion looks really beautiful. It looks even more beautiful with the lights on at night.
Small houses turned into cafes and small stores. Sales shop....funny.
Walking along the narrow alley makes me excited and I could imagine my childhood friends showing up somewhere out of blue and me wondering what's going to be there when turn around the corner.
They have cold and hot coffee. It's cheap, only 2,000 won.
People say it looks pretty laughing and taking pictures. Especially, the girls seem to love this village very very much. I bet 100% that your girlfriend would love it here. :)
The mural has been changed and repaired often. You could even notice the differences between my photos and from other bloggers' recent photos.
'Annyeong' written on the black chimney with Tongyeong ocean still remains over 4-5 years, though. Annyeong, I am pleased to see you, too.
The rugged surface is hard to draw the paintings yet it is full of pretty and sweet mural paintings.
The photo above is of a cafe where an old lady runs. Funny thing is that the old lady with her grandson on her back outside is the only barista in the cafe. When you order coffee, she makes coffee and the taste is mind blowing. When there's a shooting for drama or movie in Tongyeong, the celebrities even used to drink her coffee.
An old iron gate and narrow steps all became art.
The pretty paintings with blue sky in the background that goes with blue water bucket, everything looks friendly.
There are a few entrances to Dongpirang Mural Village and you won't have any problem wherever you enter. Kindly enough, you will find maps easily so you could check it out.
The village on the hills on the opposite side looks like Gancheon Culture Village in Busan. It looks unique.
Oh, there's also a painting of an angel's wings. So many people were taking pictures of this. Before the other team's turn, there was one second so I took a shot in the blind of an eye. I thought the quality of mural paintings was quite good.
There are wings like this as well. They look beautiful, don't they? They look like they are going to flutter their wings and fly away.
What would this be? The left one is a small toilet outside the house and the right one seems like a house...
A deserted house turned into this beautiful house. It might be very uncomfortable to live there but I almost wanted to buy the house because it was so pretty.
A house with no roof and walls collapsed has been transformed into this beautiful and creative artistic space. I admire the artists' sense of beauty.
Welcome to Dongpirang~♥
There was also a portrait of a comedian, Heogyeonghwan, who calls himself a son of Tongyeong on the wall. It takes one to one and a half hours to take a look around the village. There are more beautiful paintings on the walls that I haven't shown you. I am sure there is no better place to visit to make good memories with special persons or families than this place. I hope you could come to visit here if you are planning a trip to Tongyeong.
+ Address : 118-1, Dongho-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongnam
+ Telephone: 055-648-4776
+Website: http://www.dongpirang.org/
