Pohang is a 1200t corvette, and is essentially a smaller version of the Ulsan class Frigate Masan that I visited a couple of days previously - very similar layout - just a bit smaller, and with a reduced armament (1-3", 2x2-30mm, 2 Exocet, 2 triple Mk32 TT, DC racks and she had Mistral at one stage, but it is no longer fitted).The ship is berthed near the city centre - a short walk across a bridge from the biggest fish-market I have ever seen. There didn't appear to be anyone around when I got there, so I just walked onboard. I subsequently stumbled across a young lady in an office onboard who seemed to work there - who had enough English to tell me there was no ticket required, and to just be careful.The entire ship from 1-deck up was open to visitors, as well as the after-end of 2-deck. The had a tour-route indicated by painted arrows on the deck which systematically took you around the entire ship. There were displays in some of the internal compartments covering the history of the ship, and other aspects of the Korean Navy. This included a memorial to the late Chief Petty Officer Han Joo-Ho, who died during rescue operations on the sunken corvette Cheonan, and the 46 other sailors who died when Cheonan was sunk by a North Korean submarine on 26 March 2010.
There was limited signage - which was bilingual, but translations tended to be as clunky as the museum title (e.g. the 76mm gun was "A main smashing gun used by the Korean Navy")The ship itself is in reasonable condition, but starting to show signs of weathering - particularly on the upper deck walking route - although this is not surprising as it has been a museum ship since 2010. Where equipment was missing in the internal compartments, they had produced mock-ups which were quite well done - if you look in the photo of the Communications compartment, it isn't that easy to tell which modules are real, and which aren't.Overall it is a well-presented museum ship. Pohang is a bit out of the way - but if you are ever in the area, this ship is worth the visit.
