Millak Waterfront Park

In Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu, where Gwangalli Beach ends to the east, Millak Waterfront Park is a 543 m seafront park right on the water. Sit on its stepped plaza and Gwangandaegyo Bridge fills the view ahead, with the towers of Haeundae's Marine City to the right. Locals have long loved it as a front-row seat for the bridge at night.

A park built on the sea

The park was built on the shore between August 1992 and May 1997. It is 543 m long, 60 m wide and about 33,000 m² in area, large enough for 40,000 people at once. A stepped waterside area of about 3,040 m² slopes down to the sea, so at high tide you can dip your feet in the water.

For years it was packed on summer nights with people drinking and eating raw fish on mats, and litter became a serious problem: in July and August 2018 alone, about 190 tonnes of rubbish were collected, and switching off the street lights at midnight did little to help. In July 2023 Suyeong-gu declared the whole park an alcohol-free zone, and it has become a quiet place for a walk by the sea.

What to see

• Gwangandaegyo head-on: the two-level sea bridge, about 7.4 km long, stretches right across your view. Its lights come on after sunset, perfect for photos.
• Marine City skyline: from the eastern end you see the high-rises of Haeundae's Marine City across the water.
• Seaside promenade: walk from Gwangalli Beach through the park towards Millak harbour.
• Breakwater: from the breakwater at the western end you can see Gwangalli Beach curve away like a bow.

The name Suyeong

The district of Suyeong-gu was home to the Gyeongsang Left Naval Headquarters, which commanded the navy of eastern Gyeongsang in the Joseon period, and the name Suyeong comes from it. The waters off the park were once a strategic approach; today Gwangandaegyo Bridge crosses them. A little over 2 km inland, Suyeong Historical Park preserves the remains of the naval fortress, so you can pair the sea view with some history.

Tripto tips

• Opening and fees: open at all times; free.
• No alcohol: drinking in the park carries a fine of KRW 50,000, so the old custom of bringing raw fish and soju from the nearby fish centre is over.
• Time needed: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours for a walk and the night view.
• Best time: from sunset until the bridge lights come on. At high tide the lower steps are under water, so keep an eye on children.
• Getting there: walk east along Gwangalli Beach to its end and you are there, a little over 1 km from the middle of the beach.
• Combine with: Gwangalli Beach, the Millak raw fish markets and Suyeong Historical Park are all close.
• By metro: from Gwangan Station on Busan Metro Line 2, walk down to Gwangalli Beach and follow the beachfront east to the end.