Chuam Candlestick Rock

At the end of Chuam Beach in Donghae, a pillar of rock rises straight out of the sea. Chuam Candlestick Rock earns its name when the rising sun sits on its tip like a candle flame. It appears in the opening shot of the national anthem broadcast, so the view is familiar to most Koreans, and it is one of the best-known sunrise spots on the east coast.

The rock's age and legend

The candlestick and the rocks around it are limestone of the Daegi Formation (Pungchon Limestone) of the Joseon Supergroup, laid down in the early Cambrian period of the Paleozoic. Worn by the sea into sharp pinnacles and grooves, they form karren, a leading example of coastal karst in Korea, with sea caves along the shore.

Legend tells of a man here who took a concubine; his wife and the concubine quarrelled until heaven, angered, struck them down with lightning and left only the man standing, and the candlestick is his figure.

The rock has been weakened by weathering. A detailed safety inspection by Donghae City in 2009 found several wounds and stacked blocks at risk of falling, which could be damaged by an earthquake or heavy swell, and in 2021 concerns were raised that the cracks were getting worse.

What to see

• The candlestick: the coastal path gives views of the pillar and the cluster of rocks around it from several angles.
• Bukpyeong Haeamjeong: a pavilion on the path from the rock to the suspension bridge, built in 1361 by Sim Dong-ro, founder of the Samcheok Sim clan, when he retired from office; its present form dates from repairs around 1790.
• Chuam Candlestick Rock Suspension Bridge: a 72 m swaying bridge across sea rocks about 200 m from the candlestick, with the East Sea as a backdrop.
• Chuam Beach and sculpture park: a small sandy beach and cliffs; the far end of the bridge leads into the Chuam sculpture park. The drama "Winter Sonata" was filmed here.

Good to know

• Chuam Station, a small halt opened in 1999, connects by footbridge straight into the Chuam sculpture park. It stopped handling passengers in December 2023, reopened in January 2025, and has been served by KTX-Eum trains since 30 December 2025.
• The same Pungchon limestone that forms the candlestick also makes up Cheongok Golden Bat Cave in central Donghae; seeing both shows two landscapes carved from the same rock.
• For parking, use the car park in front of the Donghae Russian King Crab Village. Chuam Auto Camping Ground is nearby.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: the beach is open at all times and free; the coastal walk and suspension bridge are open 09:00–20:00. Information: 033-530-2801.
• Parking: KRW 3,000 for cars, KRW 5,000 for large vehicles.
• Sunrise: to catch the sun on the tip of the rock, be in place 30 minutes before sunrise; winter dawns on the shore are bitterly cold.
• By train: Chuam Station connects to the sculpture park by a footbridge, but trains stop there only at weekends, so check the timetable.
• Safety: the rock is fragile; don't climb onto the rocks beyond the fences, and keep away from the shoreline rocks when waves are high.