Did You Know There's a Turtle Ship Under a Bridge in Yeosu?

Hi, I'm Sudal. Today I want to talk about a bridge over the sea in Yeosu, and a ship quietly sitting right beneath it. Just hearing its name brings the image straight to mind: the turtle ship. When I first heard about this park, I thought, 'Why would a turtle ship be under a bridge?' But it turns out there's a good reason. Shall we take a slow look together?

Under the Geobukseon Bridge, Turtle Ship Park

Turtle Ship Park is said to sit beneath Yeosu's Geobukseon Bridge. It's said to have been built to honor the patriotic spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and honestly, that meaning feels baked right into the name, doesn't it? The bridge is called Geobukseon Bridge, and the park is called Turtle Ship Park, so this whole area feels like a space made to remember Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his turtle ship. I've crossed that bridge many times living here in Yeosu, but once I found out there's a park quietly sitting beneath it, I noticed my feelings shift a little every time I see that bridge now. It's not just a bridge to pass over anymore — it's a bridge with a piece of our history resting underneath it.

I've heard the park itself isn't a flashy or bustling kind of place. It's said to be more of a quiet space instead, where you can feel the shade under the bridge and the sea breeze together. Since it was built to honor Admiral Yi Sun-sin, it might be nicer to visit in a calm mood, pausing for a moment to picture that era, rather than going in expecting excitement.

The real star of this park is actually something else: a full-size replica of the turtle ship.

A Full-Size Turtle Ship You Can Even Step Inside

Turtle Ship Park is said to display a full-size replica of the turtle ship that was actually used in battle during the Imjin War. And it's not something you just look at from the outside and walk past — I've heard you can actually go inside and look around, which is the part I find most exciting. If you can see a turtle ship you've only ever seen in books or videos, at full size, right in front of you, and even walk inside it, that must feel completely different. Walking through that narrow, dim interior, you might find yourself imagining how the soldiers back then must have felt inside that ship. That said, I'm not entirely sure whether the interior is always open for viewing, or whether that changes depending on the time or season. So if you'd really like to see the inside, it's probably safer to double-check before you visit.

There's more to the story than just the turtle ship, too.

After the Turtle Ship, a Walk Awaits

A walking path is said to be set up around the park. So it's not just a spot where you look at the turtle ship and turn back — I've heard it's also a nice place to take a light stroll under the bridge's shade, feeling the sea breeze along the way. I really like this kind of combination. When a place has a sight steeped in history plus a walking path where you can stretch your legs and relax, it makes you want to linger there a little longer. Just imagining what that path looks like, walking along while glancing up at Geobukseon Bridge overhead, already puts me in a good mood.

If you happen to pass under a big bridge while traveling around Yeosu, take a moment to check whether it might be Geobukseon Bridge. A park like this, with a turtle ship quietly resting beneath it, might be right there. Rather than expecting a flashy attraction, I'd suggest going with the mindset of quietly taking in the story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his turtle ship, then strolling slowly along the walking path afterward for a breath of sea air. I'd love to find the time myself someday to walk through that narrow turtle ship interior in person.

🦦 Real Photos, via Sudal