Dadaepo Beach, Busan

Spread across the very end of the Nakdong River estuary, Dadaepo Beach is Busan's classic place to watch the sun set over the sea. Fine sand carried down by the river forms a beach 900 m long and 100 m wide, and the water is so shallow that at low tide you can walk far out across the exposed sandbars. Silhouettes of people against the evening glow are the beach's signature image.

A beach built by a river

Dadaepo lies southwest of central Busan where the Nakdong meets the sea. River sand gives it a gentle slope, and with shallow, relatively warm water it is known as a good beach for children. It opened as a swimming beach in the 1970s.

When the Nakdong estuary barrage was completed in 1987, the river no longer flowed freely into the sea and the beach changed. Then the Dadaepo seaside park opened in 2015, and Dadaepo Beach Station on Metro Line 1 followed in April 2017, bringing far more visitors.

What to see

• Sunset on the sandbars: at low tide a thin sheet of water on the sand mirrors the sky. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset.
• Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dreams: a large musical fountain on the square at the beach entrance, with light-and-music shows held regularly from late April to October.
• Dadaepo eco trail (Gouni trail): a boardwalk across the natural wetland beside the beach, through reed beds and past sandbars, lit up at night.
• Water sports: on windy days the beach fills with kiteboarders and paddleboarders.

Good to know

• Just south of the beach is Morundae, a former island joined to the mainland by deposited sand, reachable on foot.
• The beach's sunset also served as the backdrop for a confession scene in a TV drama starring Song Joong-ki and Chun Woo-hee.
• After heavy summer rain in 2011, river sand and sand placed for coastal works washed into the sea and water quality briefly suffered. It has since recovered enough for swimming, and the seaside park offers foot-washing stations, showers, a lawn and a seawater stream.
• Nearby are historic sites such as the Dadaepo shell midden, the Dadaejin magistrate's hall, the Jeong Un memorial and Yungongdan altar, as well as the bird sanctuary of the lower Nakdong. The eco trail is also a popular spot for wedding photos.
• Dadaepo lies about 8 km southwest of central Busan at the mouth of the Nakdong. For beach enquiries, contact Saha District (+82 51-220-4912).

Tripto tips

• Hours and fees: open all year, free. The official summer swimming season is set each year by Saha District.
• Getting there: get off at Dadaepo Beach Station, the end of Busan Metro Line 1, and you are at the beach. There is no dedicated beach car park, so public transport is easiest.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for the beach and eco trail; allow a full evening for the sunset and fountain show.
• Nearby: add the Morundae walking trail for a half-day outing.