Taeanhaean National Park

Stretching along 198 km of coastline around the Taean Peninsula and Anmyeondo Island in South Chungcheong, Taeanhaean National Park is Korea's only coastal national park. It was designated in 1978 as the country's 13th national park and covers 388.604 km² including the sea. With 27 beaches, tidal flats, sand dunes, sea cliffs and dozens of islands in one park, it offers everything from summer swimming to coastal hikes and island views.

The landscapes

• Beaches: from Hakampo in the north through Mallipo and Mongsanpo to Kkotji on Anmyeondo, each beach has its own character. This is the Yellow Sea, so wide tidal flats appear at low tide, and sunsets over the water are a highlight.
• Coastal dunes: wind-built sand dunes survive behind several beaches, the best known being the Sinduri coastal dunes.
• Cliffs and islands: the islands scattered off the west coast of the peninsula are ringed by wave-cut cliffs and pine forest. On islands such as Gauido, reached by boat, layered and fractured rock shows the coastal geology in vivid detail.
• Coastal pines: belts of pine behind many of the beaches break the sea wind and make it easy to find shade in summer.

Places not to miss

• Kkotji Beach: a long beach on the west side of Anmyeondo. The sun setting between Halmi and Halabi rocks, the "grandmother and grandfather" rocks standing side by side in the sea, is the classic Taean view.
• Sinduri coastal dunes: sand dunes protected as a natural monument. Boardwalks lead past wind-rippled sand and dune plants.
• Mallipo Beach: a broad sweep of sand on the west of the Taean Peninsula, popular for summer swimming and surfing. At its northern headland, pine forest runs right down to the sea.

Around 130 islands are scattered through the park, and some 250 plant species grow here.

Taean Coastal Trail

The best way to experience the park is on foot. The Taean Coastal Trail (Taean Haebyeongil) runs about 97 km in seven sections from Hakampo in Wonbuk-myeon in the north to Gonam-myeon in the south. Section 1, Baragil, covers 12 km from Hakampo past Guryepo and Meondong beaches to the Sinduri dunes, and Section 2, Sowongil, continues from Sinduri to Mallipo. On Anmyeondo, Noeulgil ("sunset trail") runs about 12 km from Baeksajang Port via Sambong, Gijipo, Duyeo, Batgae and Bangpo to Kkotji Beach, and is best walked late in the day. Most of the trail alternates between sand, pine woods and low hills, without steep climbs.

Tripto tips

• When to go: July–August for swimming; April–June and September–November for walking in cooler breezes. Winter is quiet, but the sea wind is bitter, so dress warmly.
• Time needed: half a day for one or two beaches, 4–5 hours for a trail section, and two days to get a real feel for the park.
• Check the tides: before exploring the mudflats or rocky shores, check the tide tables. The tide comes in faster than you expect.
• Getting there: buses run from Seoul to Taean Bus Terminal, and county buses continue to the beaches, but they are infrequent. A car makes it much easier to visit several beaches. Major beaches such as Mongsanpo have car parks.
• Park updates: check the Korea National Park Service website for trail closures and beach opening dates before you go.