Pohang (Korean pronunciation: [pʰo.ɦaŋ]), formerly spelled Po-Hang, is the largest city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, with a population of 499,363 as of 2022, bordering the East Sea to the east, Yeongcheon to the west, Gyeongju to the south, and Cheongsong and Yeongdeok to the north.
The city has food, textile, and metal industries. Agricultural products such as grapes, persimmons and garlic chives are abundant, and the city's proximity to the East Sea has led to the development of a fishing industry. Hagfish is a local specialty.
The Korean Marine Corps 1st Division is stationed in Pohang, and their Education and Training Command is located there as well.
Tourist attractions include the Jukdo Fish Market, where fresh seafood is sold, as well as the Yeongildae Beach, Wolpo Beach, and Pohang Songdo Beach. Naejangsan Mountain divides Pohang and Yeongdeok and has twelve waterfalls.
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You don't have to stumble very far to find a drink in this town, or anywhere in Korea for that matter. If beer is your drink of choice, head for a HOF (호프, "hopeu"), which sells cheap Korean beer in pitchers alongside a selection of overpriced anju (안주) - fried chicken, fruit platters, nachos, or dried fish - an order of which is sometimes required. Soju is available anywhere beer is served. Liquor is not always easy to find. It's more popular with expats than Koreans, so heading for a foreigner bar is a safe bet. There are no enforced open-container laws in Korea, so if you're trying to save some cash buy a pitcher from the local Family Mart and head for Bukbu Beach or the nearest park.
There are a few hotels within a ten minute walk toward town, mostly wedged in the network of small roads and alleys west of The Hand. These places start at approximately ₩40,000 per night and checkout can seem obnoxiously early after viewing sunrise and going back to bed. Pension accommodations can be found on the other side of town, past the broadcast stations along the shore. Getting to these will involve a little exploring. Pensions during summer start at about ₩70,000 per night per room.
Buses run regularly throughout Pohang and the surrounding areas. There are two kinds of buses: general buses (일반버스) and seat buses (좌석버스). Fare for the general buses are slightly cheaper than fare for the seat buses. General buses are painted blue and orange, and seat buses are painted green and gray. There are 31 bus lines.
Pohang is about 110 km (70 mi) north of Busan and about 360 km (230 mi) southeast of Seoul. Pohang is home to POSCO, one of the world's largest steel companies, which sits prominently on the bay. It is also the home of POSTECH, a highly ranked engineering university.
