[Joyongjun's Travel Journey] A Slow-Moving Green Comma~ Summer Means the Sea!

Sea~ The place where summer becomes special
Escape the city’s stuffiness in an instant~ to the sea
Seasonal food? No, seasonal sea travel
Summer Sea Tourism Gong July Recommended Places to Visit

The eelgrass beds of Ongjin Daeijakdo gradually revealed during low tide

Marine sports such as surfing enjoyed at Ulju Jinha Beach

Once the monsoon retreats, the full-fledged summer vacation begins. When the holiday season arrives, deciding where to go is no small matter. However, when talking about summer travel, the sea cannot be left out. Standing before the vast ocean, the scorching heat surely loses its power. Moreover, if you can enjoy special experiences unique to sandy beaches, you will likely forget all the frustrations felt in the city. From the mudflats of the West Sea to the paradise of various marine sports in the East Sea, let's set off to find seaside destinations that are in season during summer. Coincidentally, the Korea Tourism Organization's theme for recommended places to visit in July is also 'Summer Sea.' Just as seasonal foods are best for your health, there is no better time to visit seasonal travel destinations. Now, let's go.

#In summer, it's definitely the East Sea! Enjoy the blue sea at Eodal Beach and Daejin Beach

Sky Valley in Dojjaebigol, Donghae, Gangwon, seen from the sky

Eodal Beach Crescent Moon Sculpture

Located between Mukho Port to the south and Daejin Port to the north, Eodal Beach is a travel spot where vacationers can enjoy a relaxed time even during the busy summer holiday season. Eodal Port is a harbor located very close to Eodal Beach. A unique sight at Eodal Port is the pastel-colored tetrapods (tetrapods are concrete blocks with four cone-shaped legs installed in front of breakwaters to block waves). About a 10-minute walk from Eodal Port is Eodal Beach. One of Eodal Beach's summer highlights is the approximately 120 tables set up along a 300-meter stretch of sandy beach for visitors. Vacationers can freely bring their own food and enjoy it at the tables. In the evening, there are plans to encourage ordering food delivery from local restaurants. It takes about 30 minutes on foot to get from Eodal Beach to Daejin Beach, which is close by. The waves are moderate, making it a popular destination for surfers.

Overlooking various parts of Donghae City, Mukho Lighthouse stands atop the Nongoldamgil village. Right next to it is Dojjaebigol Sky Valley, opened in 2021. Visitors can experience the skywalk, sky cycle, giant slide, and more. Following the path leading to the sea, you reach Dojjaebigol Haerang Observatory, where you can feel as if you are walking over the ocean.

#A slow-moving comma on the sea, Incheon Daeijakdo Island

Ongjin Buasan Cloud Bridge Meeting the Five Brothers Rocks

Daeijakdo Mudflat Experience

Incheon, home to 168 islands, includes Daeijakdo, known as a clear and quaint island. It is a place where three neatly maintained villages and unspoiled nature breathe, located about 44 km from Incheon Yeonan Pier. Although a small island stretching 4 km from west to east, it offers diverse travel experiences with two mountains and four beaches. The trekking course to the summit of Bua Mountain, the island's representative peak at about 159 meters high, is a gentle trail suitable for light walking. The path passes by the pointed O-hyungje Rocks shaped like candlesticks, a red cloud bridge in a dense forest, and the Samshin Halmi Yaksooter (a sacred spring) imbued with spiritual energy. Especially breathtaking is the heart-shaped harbor formed by Daeijakdo and Soijakdo as seen from the summit of Bua Mountain. The smallest beach on Daeijakdo, Jageumpulan Beach, has a camping site surrounded by pine forests and is made of fine sand. Walking along the deck at the beach's end, you can encounter Korea's oldest rock, dating back 2.51 billion years. What makes Daeijakdo even more mysterious is the sandbar called Pultung. This sandbar appears twice a day during low tide, creating different shapes, widths, and patterns daily due to waves and wind, and is known as a treasure trove of marine ecosystems. At the southeastern tip of the island is Gyenam Branch School, the filming location of the 1960s popular movie 'Seommaeul Seonsaeng' (Island Village Teacher), and the surrounding beach trail is especially beautiful. For those wanting to learn more about Daeijakdo's history and ecology, head to the Marine Ecology Center.

#Clam digging in Garorim Bay mudflats, Seosan Jungri Fishing Village Experience

Seosan Ungdo Sea Split

A child using a hoe to catch clams at the Seosan mudflat experience site

Garorim Bay, located between Seosan City and Taean County in Chungcheongnam-do, is a sea embracing vast mudflats. At Jungri Fishing Village Experience Center, you can fully enjoy these mudflats. Operated with direct participation from Jungwang-ri residents, this experience village offers various programs and facilities to welcome visitors. The representative experience is 'clam digging.' Operating from March to November, visitors pay a fee and dig for clams in the mudflats. It is also possible to rent digging tools at the village information center. If you want to fully enjoy the scenery of Garorim Bay, staying overnight is recommended.

Wungdo Island, about a 30-minute drive from the village, is a place where dramatic sea parting scenes unfold. Seosan Buseoksa Temple, founded by Uisang, is also a travel destination where you can fully enjoy the temple atmosphere harmonizing with lush green forests in summer.

Visiting Gaesimsa Temple, one of the four major temples in Chungnam, and taking a commemorative photo on the single-log bridge is a good idea. The traditional Hanok Seosan Yugibang House, built during the Japanese colonial period, is famous for the daffodils that fill the surroundings every spring but also boasts a serene atmosphere in summer. If you want to meet Elephant Rock, which seems to guard the mudflats at the entrance of Garorim Bay, try hiking Hwanggeumsan Mountain.

#A moment that makes our summer special, Ulsan Jinha Beach

At Ulju Jinha Beach, parasols and tubes can be used free of charge.

Ulsan Jinha Beach Sculpture

Jinha Beach is located in Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, at the southern end of Ulsan, bordering Gijang-gun, Busan, and is close to Ganjeolgot, a sunrise spot where the sun rises earliest on the Korean Peninsula. The water is clear, and the white sandy beach is wide, attracting many vacationers in summer. Parasols, life jackets, tubes, showers, and parking are all free to use, making it even better. The waves and wind are favorable, making it famous for marine sports such as surfing, windsurfing, and kite surfing. During the beach's operating period, water leisure zones and swimming zones are separated. A coastal walking trail is well maintained along the long beach, making it good for light walks, and pretty photo zones are installed here and there. To the south of the beach is Daebawi Park, and to the north is Myeongseon Bridge, adding more attractions. In front of the beach lies the small uninhabited island Myeongseondo, famous for its mysterious nighttime landscape lighting. During low tide, it is possible to walk from the beach to the island, so check the tide times before visiting. The beach is open from June 28 to August 31, and the nighttime lighting on Myeongseondo does not operate on Mondays or during bad weather.

Although Ulsan has a strong industrial city image, it is also an excellent tourist city with four places selected in the 2023-2024 Korea Tourism 100. Plan a trip to visit these Korea Tourism 100 spots, including Taehwagang National Garden, Korea's second national garden, Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village, Daewangam Park, and Yeongnam Alps.

#Digging up summer memories and treasures, Gochang Gushipo Beach

Gochang Gushipo Beach, a child digging for clams

The Gochang mudflat in front of Mandol Village is vast.

Gochang's sea is famous for its mudflats, but Gushipo Beach is a place where a wide sandy beach with golden sand grains sparkles. Even when the seawater recedes far, the beach bottom is covered with fine golden sand, not muddy mudflats, providing ideal conditions for swimming. About 1 km in front of the beach, Gamakdo Island, shaped like a round tray, creates a beautiful landscape. At the end of the beach, jagged rocks rise, adding to the scenic beauty, and tall pine trees lining the beach provide cool shade for vacationers. The beach's slope is gentle and flat, allowing anyone to safely enjoy swimming, and it is the largest beach in Gochang County. The Ramsar Gochang Mudflat Center near Gushipo is the hub for exploring Gochang mudflats. The first floor is an exhibition hall, and the second floor is for experiential activities. The highlight here is a 30-minute mudflat tour by electric car with a certified wetland ecology guide providing rich commentary.

Mandol Mudflat Experience Learning Center offers mudflat activities by riding a mudflat truck equipped with giant tractor wheels. After the mudflat experience, you can take a break at the West Coast Wind Park right in front of the experience center. The Dongho National Leisure Camping Ground, operated by Gochang County, offers a wonderful auto camping experience enjoying the red sunset of the West Sea among clusters of pine trees.