Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park

Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park sits in the Wangpi River valley of Yeongyang County, North Gyeongsang Province, in northeast South Korea, and in 2015 it became Asia's first International Dark Sky Park, certified at Silver tier by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Why Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park is a top stargazing spot

The park's 390 hectares lie within the Wangpi River Basin Ecological Landscape Protected Zone, a designation that has safeguarded the valley since 2005, well before the dark sky certification followed in 2015. Surrounded by mountains, the site was originally protected for its firefly population, since fireflies depend on natural darkness to survive, and that same darkness is what makes the park's night sky so clear. Being Asia's first International Dark Sky Park gives it a landmark status among the region's stargazing destinations.

What you can see

The park is noted for a clearly visible Milky Way and has been certified as having low light pollution and exceptional stargazing conditions for its Silver-tier rating. Its accessibility to South Korea's dense population, within reach of roughly 50 million residents, has made it an increasingly popular destination for amateur astronomers who want dark skies without a long journey from the country's major cities.

Visiting Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park at night

A dedicated dark sky management plan governs the park, reflecting an ongoing commitment to preserving its natural darkness alongside its firefly habitat. The park draws a growing number of visiting amateur astronomers from around South Korea, drawn by both the stargazing and the chance to see fireflies in a genuinely dark, protected valley. As with any protected site, checking current visitor information before travelling is worthwhile, since access details can change.

Best time to go

At Yeongyang's mid-northern latitude, the Milky Way core is highest and most visible roughly March to September, while the clear, cold air of winter can bring excellent views of bright winter constellations. Whatever the season, plan your visit around the new Moon for the darkest skies, give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and use red light rather than white to protect your night vision, especially since it also helps avoid disturbing the park's fireflies.

Getting there

Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park is about a 4.5-hour drive from Seoul, making it a genuine but reachable dark-sky getaway for the tens of millions of people living in South Korea's major population centres.

See your named star from here

As Asia's first International Dark Sky Park, Yeongyang offers a proven, protected place to look for a star you've named through Star Register. Bring your certificate's coordinates and a stargazing app, use the star catalogue to double-check your star's position, and consider a nearby observatory if you would like extra guidance finding it in the valley's dark, firefly-friendly sky.