Nasa Beach

Nasa Beach lies in front of the village of Nasa-ri in Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, about 2 km west of Ganjeolgot. Local lore says the village itself grew from sand that piled up here until it became dry land, and the sand still has a reputation for not sticking to your skin – it brushes off easily. It is a place to come for a quiet walk and a sunset rather than for a busy day at the beach.

A village built on sand

The name Nasa-ri is said to come from the way the sand reaches out into the sea. At one end of the beach is the small fishing harbour of Nasa Port, with a white lighthouse at the tip of its breakwater. The beach itself is short, but a long tongue of sand reaches out towards the breakwater, so you can walk out with clear water on both sides.

What to look out for

• Nasa-ri lighthouse: follow the breakwater to the end to reach the white lighthouse. The photo spot near its entrance is busiest around sunset.
• Sand spit and breakwater: the strip of sand running out towards the breakwater makes a good frame for photos with the sea on either side.
• Filming location: a scene in the 2023 drama See You in My 19th Life, in which the two leads dance against the sea, was filmed here.
• Sunset: unusually for the east coast, the beach is known as a sunset spot, and many people come at dusk to watch the sky and water change colour.

Combine it with Ganjeolgot

Nasa Beach is close to Ganjeolgot, one of the places on the Korean mainland where the sun rises first, so the two make an easy half-day trip together. Coastal walking paths run around Ganjeolgot, and further north are Jinha Beach and the islet of Myeongseondo. Many visitors split the day: sunrise at Ganjeolgot in the morning, a walk and sunset at Nasa Beach later on.

Staying by the sea

Haeoreum Campsite sits right next to the beach, and plenty of people spend a night here listening to the waves. From the campsite, the Ganjeolgot Somang-gil coastal path follows the shore towards Ganjeolgot, so you can walk to the sunrise before dawn. A few cafés on the road behind the beach look out over the water, handy for a break after your walk. Since the beach appeared in episode 112 of Running Man, some visitors also come to retrace the filming spots.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour is enough for a walk along the beach and out to the lighthouse. Allow half a day if you add Ganjeolgot.
• Opening and fees: open all year round with no entry fee. Parking is free.
• Best time: late afternoon and sunset. On summer middays there is almost no shade, so bring a hat and water.
• Getting there: a car is by far the easiest option. By public transport, take the Donghae Line to Seosaeng Station and change to a city bus towards Ganjeolgot; services can be infrequent, so check times in a map app first.
• Watch out for: outside the official swimming season there are no lifeguards. Do not climb onto the concrete tetrapods along the breakwater. Around 1 January, when the sunrise festival takes place, traffic into the Ganjeolgot area may be restricted.