Current Time in Yeosu, South Korea

Yeosu lies on the southern coast of South Korea, in South Jeolla Province, occupying a long peninsula that reaches into the island studded waters of the South Sea. The city administers around three hundred islands, many of them small and rocky, and its indented coastline of bays, headlands and bridges gives it one of the most attractive settings in the country. The climate is mild and maritime, with warm humid summers, gentle winters and a long season of clear evenings that has made the harbour a favourite subject for photographers and songwriters.

About two hundred and seventy thousand people live here. Yeosu combines two very different economies: one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Asia occupies the industrial zone to the north, while fishing, aquaculture and tourism dominate the coast and islands. The city drew international attention when it hosted the World Exposition in 2012 on the theme of the living ocean and coast, an event that rebuilt the waterfront and left behind exhibition halls, a marina and a striking Sky Tower converted from old cement silos.

Its history is inseparable from the sea. During the Joseon dynasty Yeosu was the headquarters of the Left Naval Command of Jeolla Province, and it was from this base that Admiral Yi Sun-sin led the Korean navy against the Japanese invasions of the 1590s, deploying the armoured turtle ships that became a national symbol. Jinnamgwan, the vast wooden pavilion built as a naval command hall, survives as one of the largest single storey traditional structures in Korea and is designated a national treasure.

Visitors climb to the Hyangiram hermitage, a small temple clinging to a cliff above the sea where crowds gather at sunrise on New Year's Day, and cross the illuminated Dolsan Bridge to the island of the same name. A cable car strung across the water offers views over the harbour, while Odongdo, a camellia covered islet linked by a breakwater, is famous for its flowers in early spring. Beaches, lighthouses and ferry trips to outlying islands fill the summer months.

Yeosu has a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere. Seafood defines its cooking, from grilled shellfish and raw fish to the local speciality of gat kimchi made with pungent leaf mustard grown on Dolsan. A popular song about the night sea of Yeosu made the city a fashionable destination for young Koreans, and the waterfront bars and night markets are busy well after dark. Aquariums, maritime museums and expo pavilions provide indoor attractions.

High speed trains run from Seoul to Yeosu Expo station in about three hours, and an airport, expressways and coastal ferries complete the network. Chonnam National University maintains a campus here, with strong programmes in marine science and fisheries.

Yeosu is popular for its islands, its naval heritage and one of the most memorable harbour views in South Korea.