Inside the Turtle Ship! Complete Guide to the Inside and Outside of the Turtle Ship at Yeosu Yi Sun-sin Square⚓

#Domestic travel

⚓ Yeosu Yi Sun-sin Square ‘Geobukseon’ Complete Tour

▶ External viewing points
• The **life-size (35.3m in total length, 10.6m in width, 2-story structure, 177t)** Geobukseon restoration model installed in the middle of the square precisely reproduces the core battleship of the Joseon navy .
• Iron spikes were embedded on the sturdy wooden hull to prevent enemy loading on board, and the structure of smoke emitting from the dragon head decoration was also considered ().

▶ Internal viewing structure
• Upon entering, you will see a wax doll of the navy, weapons from the Joseon Dynasty (firearms, gun barrels, etc.), a control room, and a soldier’s quarters recreated .
• In the costume experience corner, you can try on general’s and navy uniforms, and even experience making rubbings, so everyone from children to adults can participate ().
• The interior is connected by wooden stairs and passageways, so you can feel the structure of an actual battleship with your body and move around.

⸻

🛠️ Key Information
• Operating Hours: The plaza is open 24 hours, but the turtle ship model interior is open for viewing on weekends and festival periods.
• Admission: Free .
• Address: 74 Jungang-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do (Jungang-dong) .
• Parking: Free parking for 1 hour at nearby public parking lots ().

⸻

💡 Viewing Tips
1. You should go early in the morning or before or after the performance to have more time to experience the interior.
2. If you visit in conjunction with the ‘Navy Expedition Ceremony’ on Saturday evening, you can enjoy both a historical experience and a photo spot at the same time.
3. The turtle ship top deck offers a view of the entire sea in front of Yeosu, making it the perfect photo zone!

⸻

🌊 Emotional Impressions

“I could feel the breath of the Joseon navy while slowly walking inside the giant turtle ship.
The wax figures of generals and sailors, narrow passageways, and even the windows…
I was overwhelmed with emotion thinking, ‘Admiral Yi Sun-sin was standing on this ship.’
When I went outside, the sea breeze blew in, and the majesty of the turtle ship’s exterior became even more real.
It wasn’t just a sculpture, it was a space where history breathed 😊”