Changwon travel info

Changwon is one name for three towns. The planned city at its centre, the old port of Masan and the navy town of Jinhae were merged into one city in 2010. A straight road over 12 km long cuts through downtown, and at night boats lit with LEDs drift on Yongji Lake. Cross over to Masan for the fish market and the monkfish-stew alley of Odongdong; go to Jinhae in spring, when cherry blossoms roof over the Yeojwa Stream.

The food leans toward the sea. Monkfish stew is said to have started in Odongdong in the 1960s, and in Changdong plenty of people nurse a hangover with pufferfish soup. At the Masan fish market you pick your fish, pay, and eat at a restaurant. Winter brings conger-eel shabu-shabu and spring brings sea squirts.

From Seoul it is about three hours by KTX, and Gimhae is the nearest airport. The three districts sit 15 to 30 minutes apart, so give each its own day. Jinhae jams up in early April cherry-blossom season, so start early.

From Seoul (KTX)

• KTX (Seoul Station to Changwonjungang): About 2h50–3h · Standard ₩52,100
• Express bus (Seoul to Masan): About 4h10 · Standard ₩24,500 · premium ₩36,300

From Busan (BUS)

• Intercity bus (Busan Seobu to Masan): About 50 min · ₩6,100

From Gimhae Airport (PUS)

• Bus (Gimhae Airport to Changwon): About 30–45 min ·
• Taxi or pre-booked car: About 40 min, traffic permitting ·

• From Seoul: KTX to Changwonjungang, ~3h
• Best time to go: Blossoms in early April; quiet in October
• Transit card & payment: Transit card works; cash at markets
• SIM & Wi-Fi: LTE/5G in town
• Emergency: 119 · 112 · tourist line 1330
• Budget: Walks free; Nubija day pass ₩1,000
• Tourist info: English at main sights; 1330 as backup