Yeosu (Korean: 여수; Korean pronunciation: [jʌ.sʰu]), is the second largest city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. In 1998, the Old Yeosu City, Yeocheon City and Yeocheon County were merged and the current city, Yeosu, was formed. Historically it was known as Yosu, and Reisui during the Japanese rule over the Korean peninsula.
Good restaurants can be found anywhere in Korea, but almost any seafood restaurant in Yeosu warrants merit.
Main areas to go out: *Yeosu Downtown (여수시내): The busiest area in the city with hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. Ask for Chungang-ro (중앙로) or Chinnamkwan (진남관) to find the area. *Yeoseo-dong (여서동): trendy and modern cafes, restaurants, clubs and bars *Yeocheon downtown (여천시내): mainly behind the fire station, dozens of blocks for restaurants, bars and cafes linked to Soho-dong *Soho-dong (소호동): dozens of cafes and seafood restaurants along the coast line near the yacht marina *Dolsan Bridge (돌산대교): romantic cafes around the bridge to enjoy the nightview *
The best way around the CBD is by taxi as the city is fairly small and taxi fare is quite cheap. Taxis are highly recommended against if crossing the bridge as Yeosu has some of the worst traffic jams in Korea at this bottleneck, despite its tiny size. Even by bus, it could be optimal to get off, walk the bridge and hop back on the previous bus at the other end. Ridiculous.
The city of Yeosu consists of the Yeosu peninsula and 317 islands (49 inhabited, 268 uninhabited) with population of 300,000. Yeosu is a city of history and loyalty where the headquarters of South Jeolla Province Navy Base was located, and the Great Admiral Yi Sun Shin invented the Geobukseon or "a turtle ship" to save the country while serving as the Navy Commander when Japan invaded Korea in 16th century.
Lying about midway along the southern coast of South Korea, Yeosu has cool summers and mild winters thanks to the sea wind and warm current. Its blessed ocean climate also brings Yeosu relatively longer springs and autumns than other regions.
