15 Of The Best Beaches in Korea You Haven’t Heard About

When summer comes, it’s amazing how fast those beaches start beckoning. With the temperatures rise, the sun’s rays are strong and all I can think about are lapping waters, sandy beaches and swimming, swimming, swimming. The salty seas refresh and luckily in Korea there are miles and miles of beaches to choose from. The western coast, eastern coast and southern coast of Korea offers up beautiful beaches of all kinds. From white sand and clear blue waters in the east to the long mud flat fun of the west and then the sprawling beaches of the south, not to mention Jeju’s beautiful white sand, black sand and rocky beaches too, there is a beach for you in Korea.

Here are some that you may not have heard about yet and some that you should definitely check out THIS summer in Korea! Need to take a beach vacation in South Korea? Here are the places you can’t miss.

Feel free to skip around. Here are the beaches in Korea you can check out in this guide:

1. Chaesukgang Cliffs & Byeonsan Beach (채석강)
2. Hanagae Beach (하나개해수욕장)
3. Kkotji Beach (꽃지해수욕장)
4. Gosapo Beach (고사포해수욕장)
5. Mongsanpo Beach (몽산포해수욕장)
6. Seonnyeo Rock Beach (선녀바위)
7. Jeongdongjin Beach (정동진해변)
8. Sungeut Beach (순긋해변)
9. Naksan Beach (낙산해수욕장)
10. Gyeongpo Beach (강릉 경포해변)
11. Hajodae Beach (하조대해변)
12. Surfyy Beach  (서피비치)
13. Chuam Beach (추암해수욕장)
14. Sinduri Beach (신두리해수욕장)
15. Songdo Beach (송도해수욕장)

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.)

---

1. Chaesukgang Cliffs & Byeonsan Beach (채석강 & 변산해수욕장)

Byeonsan Beach is one of the best beaches on the west coast but the highlight for me are the Chaesukgang Cliffs which are just south of the beach. If you want a great weekend outside of Seoul, head to the area and hit both of them.

Byeonsan Beach is known as the best beach because it’s a pretty massive stretch of sand and has plenty to do in the area. There is both a beautiful sandy beach but there’s also a fun rocky coastline with tide pools and caves nearby at Chaesukgang Cliffs to explore. It’s one of those coastal spots that is great for everyone whether you’re someone that just likes sunbathing or someone that wants to play with sea creatures or climb caves.

• Address: Gyeokpo-ri Byeongsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 부안군 변산면 격포리)
• Where To Stay: Benikea Starhills Hotel
• How To Get There:
  • By Car: The easiest way to get to Chaesukgang would be by car and would take just under three hours. If you don’t have a car, consider renting one. Plan a road trip and see more of the country!
  • By Bus: From Seoul Central City Terminal, you can take a bus bound for Buan which will take just under three hours and cost a bit more or less than W20,000 depending on type of bus. From Buan’s Bus Terminal, you’ll need to take a taxi to the Byeonsan/Chaesukgang area. It should take around 20 minutes and cost around W25,000.

2. Hanagae Beach (하나개해수욕장)

Hanagae Beach is the popular weekend getaway beach for people living in Seoul located on Muuido Island out in Incheon, Korea. There are dramatic tides so you can swim and go out and dig for clams and conchs. It’s gotten even easier to get to with the addition of bridge from the mainland to the island. There is a beautiful wooden boardwalk to walk out over the water to check out the rocks and there are restaurants and a cafe there too. It’s a great easy trip from Seoul. Don’t miss it this summer in Korea.

• Address: San 189 beonji, Muui-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 무의동 산189번지 (무의동))
• Where To Stay: Nest Hotel (Design Hotel) Note: Nest Hotel is just on the main Incheon Airport Island at the entrance to Muuido Island. There aren’t as many options to stay on Muuido and the little cabins on the beach are first come first serve so you should get there early in the day and reserve. However, if you want to be sure you’ve got a bed with a shower and beautiful aesthetic, just book Nest Hotel. It’s amazing and worth it to just another 20 minutes to the beach or back.
• How To Get There: Take public transportation out to the Incheon International Airport and then head up to the 3rd floor to take a bus out to the bus stop named Muuido Entrance. Currently, buses 111 and 306 run there but always reconfirm buses when you’re looking. From there, you’ll want to catch bus 6-1 to go onto the island and get off at the beach. Takes about 35 minutes from the airport.

3. Kkotji Beach (꽃지해수욕장)

Kkotji Beach is said to be one of the best places to view the sunset in the country and tourists to Anmyeon-do would be remiss if they missed this coastal hot spot.  Two rocks that jut up out of the water on the north end named “Grandmother Rock” and “Grandfather Rock” are a huge draw and most visitors hope to glimpse the sun as it sets between these two legendary hills.

Legend has it that a wife turned to stone while she was waiting for her husband that did not return from war… though that would suggest that only one rock should exist then, doesn’t it? The beach sites in Taean-gun which is a long area that runs along the west coast. There are beautiful old forests, flower gardens, and beaches beaches beaches to find there. It’s a great weekend away from Seoul.

If you don’t have a car and want to get to the west coast, did you know you can take the subway all the way out to an island? Oido Island! Check it out.

• Address: Seungeon4-ri, Anmyeon-eup, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (충남 태안군 안면읍 승언4리)
• Where To Stay: Anmyeondo Plaza Hotel
• How To Get There: Catch a bus from Central City Bus Terminal to Anmyeondo. The bus takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. Buses leave every two hours or so. Check the schedule here on Kobus.co.kr From there, you’ll want to take about a five minute taxi to the beach area and it’ll cost around W5,000.

---

Travel Tip: If you want to get out of Seoul and plan to use the train more than twice, then the Korea Rail Pass is the economical/budget choice you want to have on hand.Grab the card here and just head to the station with your confirmation and it’s as easy as that. Look into it if you want to hop on and off a bit and get touristy.

---

4. Gosapo Beach (고사포해수욕장)

Blending both the lovely Korean shoreline with the iconic mountains that dot this country’s landscape, Byeonsanbando is a must see of Korea’s National Maritime Parks. Our favorite beach in this area is certainly Gosapo Beach with its grove of pine trees that skirt the beach making camping a perfect place for visitors. The grove is elevated from the sand granting unobstructed views of the ocean spreading into the horizon. On the south end of this beach is an impressive cliff that frames the beach spectacularly. At low tide you can try your hand at digging for clams as the tide retreats towards the horizon and into the setting sun making the beach a picture perfect place every evening.

• Address: 8-8 Norumok-gil, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 부안군 변산면 노루목길 8-8 (변산면))
• Where To Stay: Benikea StarHills Hotel
• How To Get There: 
  • By Car: The easiest way would be by car and would take just under three hours. If you don’t have a car, consider renting one. Plan a road trip and see more of the country!
  • By Bus: From Seoul Central City Terminal, you can take a bus bound for Buan which will take just under three hours and cost a bit more or less than W20,000 depending on type of bus. From Buan’s Bus Terminal, you’ll need to take a taxi to the area. It should take around 25 minutes and cost around W35,000.

5. Mongsanpo Beach (몽산포해수욕장)

This beach is one of the less popular in the Taean-gun area which made it a dream for us with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sunshine, the water and more. Campers had plots under 50 year old pine trees and there were just enough pensions and boutique hotels for everyone. Mongsanpo Beach caters to the beach goer that wants to dig for shellfish and then eat it up. There’s also a great national park and a forest of 120 year old pine trees nearby. It’s yet another great option in the Taean-gun area of Korea with dramatic sunsets and scenic coastline.

• Address: Sinjang-ri, Nam-myeon, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도 태안군 남면 신장리)
• Where To Stay: Goodstay Pinnochio Pension
• How To Get There: Catch a bus from Central City Bus Terminal to Anmyeondo. The bus takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. Buses leave every two hours or so. Check the schedule here on Kobus.co.kr From the bus terminal, you’ll want to take a taxi about 30 minutes to Mongsanpo Beach and it’ll cost around W30,000.

6. Seonnyeo Rock Beach (선녀바위)

While Eurwangli Beach and Wangsan Beach are more popular on Yeongjong Island also home to Incheon International Airport, Seonnyeo Rock Beach is a great little spot that has a sandy area in the center and is flanked by rocks on either side. The beach is named for a prominent rock shaped like a fairy in the center of the beach. During the day the tide goes out and then hunting for crabs and other shellfish is a real treat.

Set out in Incheon, it’s easy to get to for a great weekend away from Seoul and provides a lovely place to watch the sunset. The beach is so easily accessible, it’s really a wonder there aren’t more people there throughout the year.

• Address: 68-2, Seonnyeobawi-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 선녀바위로 68-2 (을왕동) 부근)
• Where To Stay: Incheon Airport Hotel Oceanview
• How To Get There: Catch a taxi from the airport that takes just 15 minutes and will cost around W12,000 or take bus 111 or 306 from the third floor bus area. The bus will take about 30 minutes.

7. Jeongdongjin Beach (정동진해변)

The white sands and crystal clear blue water are famous on Jeongdongjin Beach and the rail bike might be a bit of fun. The drama “Hourglass” shot here in 1995 adds to the area’s mystique. The immaculate sands and the water was right up my alley. A beach rail bike is a bit of a tourist trap in my opinion, but the parks, restaurants, cafes and more in the area make this a perfect beach getaway spot.

Just look at that photo… this is a beach that cannot be missed! The entire strip of beaches in Gangneung are really a must visit in the summer in my opinion. While many beaches on the southern coast get all of the hype, these ones are a bit more undisturbed and are even better in my opinion.

• Address:  17 Jeongdongjin Station Road, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 강릉시 강동면 정동역길 17)
• Where To Stay: The Haslla Art World Museum Hotel
• How To Get There: The best way to get from Seoul to Jeongdonjin Beach is to take a train from Seoul Station to Jeongdongjin Station. There are trains throughout the day starting at 7:00am and they take just over 2 hours. The train costs between W26,000 and W44,000 depending on the train and where you’re sitting.

---

Travel Tip: The beaches in Gangneung have gotten more and more popular for summer getaways for locals. If you don’t have a ton of time but still want to get out to the coast and see the views, take a tour. Klook offers a tour to the area to see spots like Youngjin Beach where “Goblin” featured a popular scene that was filmed here. They also stop at some ideal spots for ocean views and you can even bike around or take a zip wire while you’re there.

---

8. Sungeut Beach (순긋해변)

Last summer I wanted to plan a trip out to the eastern coast of Korea but didn’t really want to the pay the prices for a stay on the very popular Gyeongpo Beach. We ended up at a GREAT inn less than a minute walk from Sungeut Beach. The water was beautiful and the beach was too. It wasn’t as busy as other beaches in the area and also had a small forested area to the north to walk through to the Terra Rosa forest cafe.

Our hosts provided a BBQ dinner that we could eat at outside picnic tables and a little mart was in walking distance. It had everything we needed in a quieter but no less beautiful atmosphere. While it didn’t have all of the restaurant options the busier beaches have, it was perfect for some quiet family time on a beach and that was just what we needed. For every busy beach in the area, there’s a quiet one like this to enjoy too. Just remember that.

• Address:  Anhyeon-dong 235-5, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 강릉시 안현동235-5)
• Where To Stay: S202 Hotel
• How To Get There: Take a train from Seoul Station out to Gangneung Station. It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs around W25,000+ depending on which seats you choose. From Gangneung Station, you can take a bus or taxi about to nearby Sungeut Beach.

9. Naksan Beach (낙산해수욕장)

Naksan Beach has an awesome location just east of Seoraksan National Park. Take a hike in the mountainous area and then head to this beautiful beach. There is also a gorgeous temple on a seaside cliff as well that makes for another great activity while visiting the beach. The four kilometer long beach is lined with pine tree forests and camping spots as well as budget friendly and luxury villas.

Even though I visited during high season, there was plenty of space to spread out and not feel like we were umbrella to umbrella. There is a wooden boardwalk that allows you to take a walk along the beach and into the forested area that backs the beach too. There are some very popular tours from Seoul that take people out to Naksan after visiting Seoraksan National Park. If you’ve wanted to see both the tall mountain peaks of Korea and the beach in one day, take this tour. You’ll love it.

• Address: 59 Haemaji-gil Ganghyeon-myeon Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 양양군 강현면 해맞이길 59)
• Where To Stay: Naksan Beach Hotel
• How To Get There: From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal OR Gangnam Express Bus Terminal, take a bus to Yangyang Bus Terminal. From Seoul Express Bus Terminal it takes about 2 hours. From the Yangyang Bus Terminal, catch bus number 9 OR 9-1 in front of the terminal to Naksan or just take a taxi to your hotel which shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes and won’t cost more than W10,000 depending where you’re staying.

---

Travel Tip: Want to take your own road trip up and down the coast? Rent a car. Avis is pretty affordable and with a group of friends, it’s the best way to get back and forth, off the beaten path, and all around. Once you get out of Seoul, the roads or open and the paths varied. Where do you want to go?

---

10. Gyeongpo Beach (강릉 경포해변)

While Gyeongpo Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the northeast coast, I think there are some spots around the area that are a bit more unknown and would make the trip there even more memorable. There is a gramophone museum that is a quirky cool spot to visit right near the beach and when that hunger pang strikes, head to the salt water tofu street for some super delicious eats that the area is known for.

The white sand beach is a must and the area has quite a few spots to check out. Don’t miss this hot spot that is hot hot hot for a reason. The white sand and the emerald blue waters will make you glad you found out about this beach that is an easy bus ride out or train ride of Seoul.

• Address: 1-san Anhyeon-dong Gangneung-si Gangwon-do (강원도 강릉시 안현동 산1)
• Where To Stay: Seamarq Hotel
• How To Get There: 
  • By Train: The most comfortable way to travel to the east coast now is most definitely the train which you can catch from Seoul Station and take straight out to Gangneung Station. Trains leave every hour from 5:00am until 10:00pm and take around two hours. The tickets cost between W26,000 and W44,000 depending on the seats chosen.
  • By Bus: There are buses available that go from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal out to Gangneung and take around 2.5 hours. They cost between W14,000 and W22,000 depending on what kind of bus you’re riding. Buses leave throughout the day as well.

---

11. Hajodae Beach (하조대해변)

Located on Korea’s northeast coastline is one of the country’s most underrated beach destinations, Hajodae Beach. This tiny little beach town offers a gorgeous pristine turquoise coastline with beautiful white sand and is never crowded. If you’re a beach lover and hate the crowds that popular beach destinations like Busan often have, this is the perfect escape and a much prettier view in our opinion.

An easy 30-minute bus ride from Sokcho will land you in the tiny town where you can find a few hotels and restaurants. If you’re into camping you’re in luck because it’s okay to camp right on the beach for free. Nearby is a military base, so make sure you’re not like us and accidentally wander onto the wrong beach or you could wind up getting scolded. Also, do not attempt swimming at night as it is rumored you could be mistaken for a North Korean more soldier trying to sneak onto the South Korean shores.

• Address: 35, Hajodaehaean-gil, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 양양군 현북면 하조대해안길 35)
• Where To Stay: Zio Resort
• How To Get There: You can get a bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.The express bus from either is around 2 hours and takes you to the Yangyang Express Bus Terminal. Take a taxi about 15 minutes depending on traffic to travel 11km and cost about W17,000. The buses here have long intervals and require a bit of walking so I wouldn’t recommend trying to wait for them.

12. Surfyy Beach  (서피비치)

If you want to head somewhere with cool vibes and surfing too, then look no further than Surfyy Beach. This is a surfers-only beach on the east coast of Korea literally just north of Hajodae Beach mentioned above. It’s great if you’ve got a few people in your group that want to surf and a few/kids that just want to swim. Surfing in Korea is relatively new so expect some classes and newbies along with people who get on the waves whenever they can. It’s a ton of fun in one place.

• Address: 119 Haean-gil Hajodae, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원 양양군 현북면 하조대해안길 119 서피비치)
• Where To Stay: Zio Resort
• How To Get There: You can get a bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. The express bus from either is around 2 hours and takes you to the Yangyang Express Bus Terminal. Take a taxi about 15 minutes depending on traffic to travel 11km and cost about W17,000. The buses here have long intervals and require a bit of walking so I wouldn’t recommend trying to wait for them.

13. Chuam Beach (추암해수욕장)

Chuam Beach is a spot that has recently become a whole lot easier to get to. This year (2020) the KTX introduced a new station in Donghae that gets you from Seoul to the east coast… a quieter east coast than the popular Gangneung sports just north, in just 2.5 hours and from there it’s a 10 minute taxi ride to this gorgeous beach that also features a suspension bridge, sculpture park and a little boardwalk with restaurants and cafes. It’s a lovely seaside area that isn’t hugely popular yet which is great but also easy to get to on public transportation.

• Address: Chuam Beach, Bukpyeong-dong, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do (강원 동해시 북평동 추암해수욕장)
• Where To Stay: Sol Beach Samcheok
• How To Get There: Catch a KTX train from Seoul Station and get off at Donghae Station. From there, it’s just a 10 minute taxi to Chuam Beach.

14. Sinduri Beach (신두리해수욕장)

Sinduri Beach is a vast beach on the west coast in northern Taean-gun. I had the best weekend away there and was so surprised at how vast the beach was. It’s huge and it’s just views of the ocean and islands in the horizon. The beach isn’t the only thing to see there either. The only sand dunes in Korea are located here and they are epic. This is an amazing hidden gem that you shouldn’t miss if you want a weekend on the beach in Korea. Find out more about Sinduri Beach.

• Address: 135 Sindu-ri Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도 태안군 원북면 신두리 산 135)
• Where To Stay: Taean Golden Bean Pension
• How To Get There: You can get a bus from Gimpo Airport Terminal or Central City Bus Terminal or Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to the Taean Bus Terminal. From there, you’ll want to take bus 313 directly to the beach. The bus from the Taean Bus Terminal takes just over an hour but takes you all the way to the beach.

15. Songdo Beach (송도해수욕장)

Songdo Beach was actually the first public beach in Korea, so a sign tells visitors, and was developed by the Songdo Amusement Co. Ltd. in 1913 after a resting facility was resurrected nearby by Japanese nationals residing in the area. It became a favorite leisure area for Busan locals in the 1920s after Cheonma-ro linked the area to the urban center of Busan and by 1940, it was the place to head to rest and relax on the seaside.

What visitors see today is actually a remodeled area that came about through a five year development project. The most recent addition to the leisure and culture area of Songdo is a suspension bridge which you can find information about below. The Songdo Beach area is absolutely a rather all inclusive spot for fun, relaxing, and features plenty to see and do. Find out more about Songdo Beach here.

• Address: 171 Songdo Haebyeon-ro, Soegu, Busan (서구 송도해변로 171)
• Where To Stay: Best Western Plus Busan Songdo
• How To Get There: The best way to get to Songdo is by train. Get the train from Seoul Station in central Seoul and get to Busan Station in under three hours. If you’ll be traveling by train, definitely look into getting the Korea Rail Pass (KR Pass) which will end up giving you a discount on trips if you’re traveling to Busan and back or making multiple stops. The pass is the most cost effective way to travel for foreigners. From Busan Station, you can take a local bus after you cross the road outside of Busan Station. Take bus #26 for 20 minutes and get off at Songdo Beach stop. OR, you could take a taxi from the station which will take the same amount of time and cost around W10,000.

---

Did you like this post? Pin It!