Jungmun Saekdal Beach

Below the Jungmun Resort area in Seogwipo, Jeju, a bow-shaped strip of sand curves between wooded cliffs. Jungmun Saekdal Beach is known for its unusual sand, a mix of black, white, red and grey grains, and for big waves. In summer it fills with swimmers; on days with good swell, the surfers take over.

What kind of beach is it?

The beach is about 560 m long and 50 m wide. The sand is not one colour but a blend of black, white, red and grey grains, so up close every handful looks different. At the right-hand end of the beach is a sea cave about 15 m high, with a line of rocks behind it that looks like a folding screen. On the left, the woods and walking paths of the resort area climb the hill.

Wind is frequent here and the waves run large, which made this beach a starting point for Korean surfing. The country's first surf club was founded here in 1995, and a surfing competition has been held every year since 2005. Southerly swells in summer are what bring the surfers in.

What to see and do

• Surfing: on days with waves you will see everyone from first-time students to experienced surfers in the water. Surf shops near the beach rent boards and run lessons.
• Sea cave and rocks: the cave and screen-like rocks at the right end of the beach are best approached at low tide, when water also seems to hang and pour over the rocks at the entrance to the bay.
• Swimming: the water is famously clean. In 1999 an environmental group's survey ranked it the cleanest of 44 beaches in Korea.
• Sea turtles: in June and July, endangered sea turtles occasionally come ashore to lay eggs.
• Winter events: in the depths of winter the beach hosts events such as a "penguin" swim in the cold sea.

Good to know

Bidan moshi clams used to be gathered on this beach. Large hotels and resorts now stand above it, but the beach itself is enclosed by cliffs and forest, so once you are on the sand you see sea and trees before buildings. A short way east is Cheonjeyeon Falls with its three tiers, and the Daepo Jusangjeolli basalt columns are only a few minutes away by car.

Around the beach

The beach sits in the middle of the Jungmun Resort area, so plenty is within walking distance. About 700 m east is Cheonjeyeon Falls, a waterfall in three tiers, best seen from Seonimgyo, the bridge that spans the gorge above it. Further in the same direction, the hexagonal basalt columns of the Daepo Jusangjeolli cliffs are a little over 2 km from the beach, and the resort area also has the Yeomiji Botanical Garden and a marine exhibition centre.

From the hill on the resort side you can take in the whole curve of the beach without going down to the sand. Around sunset, the colours of the sand and the sea shift together.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: the beach is open 24 hours but may be closed in bad weather. The official swimming season, with lifeguards, is set each summer, so time a swim to fall within it.
• Currents: the waves and currents that make it good for surfing also make swimming risky. Stay inside the marked zones, and check the wave height first if you have children with you.
• Best time: July and August for swimming; summer, with its frequent southerly swells, for surfing. In quieter spring and autumn a walk on the sand is reason enough.
• Time needed: one hour for a walk and photos; half a day for a swim or a surf lesson.
• Getting there: Airport Limousine bus 600 runs from Jeju International Airport to the Jungmun Resort area in about an hour. Drivers can use the beach car park (about 150 spaces).
• Combine with: Cheonjeyeon Falls and the Daepo Jusangjeolli cliffs make an easy day around Jungmun.