Mallipo Beach

Mallipo is a long, gently curving sweep of fine sand at the western tip of the Taean Peninsula. It has long been counted among the three great beaches of Korea's west coast, alongside Daecheon and Byeonsan, and more recently surfers have nicknamed it "Mallifornia" because it is one of the few places on the Yellow Sea where you can catch a wave. It is also a beach that came back from the brink after a major oil spill in the winter of 2007.

A name about a sea voyage

The name is said to date from the early Joseon period, when envoys bound for China were seen off from here with wishes for a safe voyage of "ten thousand li" (malli) across the water; the place was first called Mallijangbeol. A 1950s pop song, "Mallipo Love", made the name known nationwide, and a stone engraved with its lyrics stands at one end of the beach.

The beach

The sand stretches for about 3 km and is more than 250 m wide. It is fine and slopes gently, so the water stays shallow, which makes it a good choice for families. Rocky, pine-topped headlands close off both ends, and at low tide you can poke around the rocks for small crabs and sea snails. A pine grove behind the beach gives shade and is used for camping, and guesthouses and seafood restaurants line the shore.

Because the coast faces west, sunset is the main event. Many visitors arrive in the late afternoon to watch the sun drop between the rock islets at the northern end.

2007: when the sea turned black

On 7 December 2007, a tug convoy towing a floating crane collided with the tanker Hebei Spirit off Mallipo, and about 12,547 kl of crude oil poured into the sea. The coast turned black, and some 1.23 million volunteers from across the country wiped rocks and sand clean with absorbent pads and buckets. The records of this recovery were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Register in 2022, and a memorial on the beach recalls the disaster.

Waves at "Mallifornia"

The Yellow Sea is usually calm, but with the right wind Mallipo gets surfable waves. Several surf schools and board rental shops have opened near the beach, and even in spring and autumn you will see surfers in wetsuits waiting for sets.

Making the most of the beach

The beach has an observation structure looking out over the Yellow Sea, the sweep of sand, both headlands and the rock islets offshore. At low tide the sand widens far towards the sea and is perfect for a barefoot walk; at high tide the pine grove is a shady place to rest and listen to the surf. Sunset comes at around 19:30 in summer and around 17:30 in winter, so time your arrival to the season.

Tripto tips

• Swimming season: the beach is officially open, with lifeguards, every July–August; check exact dates on Taean County's notices. Outside the season you can still walk the sand and watch the sunset.
• Safety: the west coast has a large tidal range and currents change quickly. Avoid swimming far out on an ebbing tide.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for a walk and the sunset; half a day if you swim or take a surf lesson.
• Getting there: take an intercity bus from Seoul to Taean Intercity Bus Terminal, then a local bus to Mallipo. Drivers will find car parks behind the beach.
• Nearby: Chollipo Arboretum and the Cheollipo and Baengnipo beaches lie just to the north, making an easy day trip together.