Photo: Garam / AttributionHyangiram is a small Buddhist hermitage built into the cliffs at the southern tip of Dolsan island. It is one of Korea's four great sanctuaries of Gwaneum, the bodhisattva of compassion. The halls face east over open sea, which is why Koreans drive here on New Year's morning. The path to the top squeezes through gaps in the rock and climbs steps the city describes as steep and repeated. Stalls line the lane below.
It is the best thing in the port for anyone fit enough, and the one that costs the most time. Count 42 minutes each way by taxi, an hour or more on site, and the taxi fare twice. Ask the driver to wait, because return taxis from the car park are not confirmed. On an 08:00–17:00 call it fits with the cable car and lunch, and nothing else.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Agree a waiting fee with the driver before you leave the terminal. The meter estimate here covers distance only; waiting time is extra and not published.
- The Islands Expo of 5 September to 4 November 2026 has its main venue at Jinmo on Dolsan, on this road. Allow longer on the 14 and 29 October 2026 calls.
- The 8 March 2027 call is a Monday. Hyangiram is open; so are the cable car, Odongdo, Jinnamgwan and the gejang street.
- Shoes come off at the hall doors. A pair you can slip off on a stone step saves time at the top.
- The lane up from the car park has food and souvenir stalls; card acceptance there is not confirmed, so bring won.
On an 08:00–17:00 call it fits with the cable car and lunch, and nothing else.
The picks
Guided days from Yeosu
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
Questions people ask here
How do I get to Hyangiram from the cruise port?
By taxi. It is 26.6 km and about 42 minutes each way, around ₩28,500 by the Yeosu tariff for distance alone (our estimate). The city-tour bus visits in the afternoon but returns at 17:20, after most ships sail. City buses take over an hour and are not advised.
Can I manage the climb?
Only if stairs are no problem. The path from the car park is about 15 minutes of steep stone steps and narrow passages between rocks, one person wide in places. Holland America rates it strenuous. The step count is not published. Anyone unsteady should choose Odongdo instead.
Is Hyangiram open on Mondays and in winter?
Yes. It is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, free of charge. The one day to avoid is New Year, when the sunrise festival closes the roads, and no cruise call falls then.