Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach is an urban beach spanning Jung-dong and U-dong in Haeundae District, Busan. Its sand stretches for about 1.5 km and covers some 120,000 m², making it the best-known beach in Korea. Figures for its width vary from 30 to 90 m depending on the source, and the shallow bay is good for swimming. In summer it is packed with swimmers; in winter it draws people for seaside walks and the Polar Bear swim, so it is busy in every season.

The name and its history

The name Haeundae comes from Haeun, the courtesy name of the late-Silla scholar Choe Chi-won. Tradition says that Choe, travelling to Gayasan after giving up office, was so taken with the scenery that he carved the characters 海雲臺 on a rock on Dongbaekseom. The bay was originally a fishing ground for local villagers and began to be used for leisure in the late 19th century. The beach officially opened in 1965, and after it was designated a special tourist area in 1994 facilities multiplied. Erosion is a constant issue: between 1947 and 2004 the area of sand shrank by about 54%, and today underwater breakwaters and annual sand replenishment keep the beach in place.

What to see

• The beach and promenade: a walkway runs along the sand, pleasant even outside the swimming season.
• Dongbaekseom: the former island at the western end is now joined to the mainland. Its coastal path passes Choe Chi-won's Haeundae inscription, a mermaid statue linked to the legend of Princess Hwangok and the Nurimaru APEC House, with views to Gwangan Bridge and the Oryukdo islets.
• Dalmaji-gil: a road climbing the hill east of the beach, with views over the sea.
• Nearby: Haeundae's hot springs and SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium are close to the beach, with a yachting dock and the BEXCO exhibition centre not far away. The beach is free and there is parking nearby.

Festivals and stories

In January swimmers plunge into the cold sea at the Polar Bear Festival, the Haeundae Sand Festival is held in June and the Busan Sea Festival in August. The beach has also been used as a venue during the Busan International Film Festival. In summer 2008 a count of 7,937 beach umbrellas opened in a single day made headlines. The beach was also the setting of the 2009 film Haeundae (Tidal Wave).

Tripto tips

• Swimming season: the beach is officially open for swimming only during a set summer period; Haeundae District announces the dates each year.
• Rip currents: because the shoreline faces south, rip currents are frequent here. The Korea Meteorological Administration publishes five-level rip current forecasts by lifeguard tower and time of day; check them before swimming and follow any swimming bans.
• Getting there: walk to the beach from Haeundae Station on Busan Metro Line 2. Sinhaeundae Station on the Donghae Line and the Haeundae intercity bus terminal are nearby too.
• Best time: outside the peak of summer, mornings and evenings in spring and autumn are relaxed for a walk.
• Time needed: about 2–3 hours for a beach walk plus a loop around Dongbaekseom.