Continuing my exploration of the southern coastal town of Tongyeong the next place I had long been excited to visit was the undersea tunnel. This was built almost a century ago during the Japanese occupation to connect the closest large island to the mainland. I'm not sure why this was needed to be done but was a remarkable engineering accomplishment for its time and possibly the worlds first undersea tunnel.

The tunnel runs for several hundred metres almost parallel to the Chungmugyo Bridge linking the island to the mainland. There is a long covered walkway that shelters the sloping path leading into the tunnel.

As you descend the summer humidity immediately clears to an icy chill as you descend into the underground passageway. The entrance doorway has writing both in Korean Hangul and Japanese at the start of the tunnel.

Similar to other tunnels it is not completely straight and starts with a curved descent down to the actual tunnel. This was possibly to avoid water resistance, assistance in construction, and to break the speed of descending vehicles.

The tunnel is lined with painted steel supports at regular intervals. Further into the actual tunnel there is a wall photo exhibit of the other touristic features of the City of Tongyeong and its surrounding islands.

There are also photos from the construction of the tunnel and its original opening. It is only wide for one vehicle travelling in a single direction. The vehicle could travel along the roadway while soldiers could run alongside on the two raised walkways

Whenever I've mentioned this tunnel to people their reaction is usually "its just a tunnel". However, I found it quite interesting and artistic looking in its architecture. Many Korean visitors were taking a stroll and snapping pictures of themselves along the way

On the return ascent at the following end the road curves upwards again as it had curved downwards on the descent at the other end. Upon exiting the humidity returns as it was like being in a cold basement or ice storage room.

Just behind the tunnel entrance on the north side is the Changnyangmyo Shrine. This was a small complex with a steep staircase leading in.

Inside the complex it leads to an inner complex where the actual shrine is in the central building which housed some tablets with inscriptions

Walking back towards the central part of town I remembered the bus coming had passed this ABBA bar which seemed so ridiculous I wanted to go back and take a picture.

At the corner of the street was a small park with exhibition building. Not sure what this was I went inside.

It was a free museum about a local resident Yun I-Sang. Apparently he was a classical musician that had went to Germany and played with orchestras there.

There was a collection of his instruments, personal artifacts, photos of his performances, and musical manuscripts

There was also a copy of his ID papers and German Passport

Outside I thought I was done but noticed a glass garage with an import car inside. It had German licence plates and I believe was his original car. Beside the garage was another German built home, maybe a restaurant but I didnt go in to look.

I didnt make it to the German village on Namhae Island but this was a pleasant surprise. Just behind what I was trying to reach was a stranged pointed roof house, unusual for Korea.

Nearby was the Tongyeong City Museum which it seems was recently built and still vacant inside. Finally I made it to the ABBA bar.

It just seemed odd since ABBA is not wildly popular in Korea nor is the Mamma Mia musical. I know there is a Beatles bar near where I live with memorabilia but Tongyeong does not have a big expat population for such a themed bar.

I wonder if the interior decor matches the exterior and whether they play ABBA music too, which I doubt!