[Choyongjun's Journey] The Most Trendy Way to Travel by the Sea Right Now

SUP Yoga at Gwangalli Beach
Beach Horseback Riding, a Hidden Gem in Gochang
Living as a Haenyeo in Hado Village, Jeju
Korea Tourism Organization Publishes "Yojum Travel"

Tourists enjoying horseback riding on the beach after low tide at Myeongsasimni Beach in Gochang

A tourist participating in the Jeju haenyeo experience is showing off a caught octopus.

SUP Yoga Using Paddleboards Presented at Gwangalli Beach in Busan

Good times are always fleeting. Spring in Korea has always been that way. The warm air that arrives like a gift, finally pushing away the seemingly endless cold, is only with us for a short while. As we watch spring quietly preparing to leave, we can't help but feel a sense of urgency. We can't let it slip away just like this. So, where can we still find the last traces of spring? The Korea Tourism Organization has published "Yojum Travel," a content series that goes beyond simply introducing travel destinations to capture what travelers feel and how they experience their journeys. "Yojum Travel" introduces the various charms and colors of domestic travel that, while not yet mainstream, are gaining attention among trend-savvy travelers and are likely to become future travel trends. The first theme of "Yojum Travel" is "marine tourism." In Korea, surrounded on three sides by the sea, the ocean has always been a precious source of livelihood alongside the land. If the land was the basis for agriculture, the sea was the main stage of life millions of years before farming began. With that in mind, the Korea Tourism Organization has selected five marine tourism destinations that reflect the latest travel trends. According to the Korea Tourism Data Lab, all of the top 10 destinations searched in the nature tourism category are beaches or swimming areas, indicating high interest and demand for marine tourism. Why not follow the recommended content and experience the most current way to travel by the sea?

#Ultimate Healing by the Sea: SUP Yoga at Gwangalli Beach, Busan

SUP Yoga Conducted on the Beach

A tourist is experiencing yoga.

If you're looking for a trendy activity to enjoy at the beach right now, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Yoga?a fusion of paddleboarding and yoga?is the answer. From May, SUP Yoga programs are available at the SUP Zone at Gwangalli Beach, one of Korea's top SUP destinations. Yoga sessions are offered both on the beach and on the water, allowing beginners and advanced participants alike to join according to their skill level. Whether on the sand or at sea, practicing yoga while balancing on a paddleboard offers a truly unique healing experience. The program also includes time to learn and try SUP itself. SUP, a water sport where you stand on a board and paddle, is easy for anyone to pick up. The SUP Yoga program runs only on weekends, from May 3 to November 16. Beach SUP Yoga starts at 9:00 a.m., and sea SUP Yoga at 11:00 a.m. There are also a variety of other experiences available, such as a three-hour SUP session and programs that combine SUP with the romance of sunrise or sunset.

Gwangalli Beach and the SUP Zone have been selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization as part of the "2025-2026 Korea Tourism 100." Nearby, you'll also find other top 100 destinations such as Haeundae Beach, Busan X the Sky, Haeundae Green Railway, and Songjeong Beach, making it a great area to explore together.

#A Hidden Gem in Gochang: Beach Horseback Riding at Myeongsasimni

Tourists enjoying horseback riding in the pine forest of Gochang

Riding a horse, strolling along Myeongsasimni Beach

On the western side of Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province, a vast stretch of white sand unfolds. Locals call this place "Myeongsasimni Beach." Here, anyone can easily learn horseback riding and experience programs that take you through both the forest and along the beach. This is the "Hygge Farm Gochang Beach Horseback Riding Club." In addition to basic riding lessons, the club offers trail riding programs through pine forests and along the shore.

There are programs suitable for everyone, from beginners to enthusiasts. You can feed the horses or ride in a circular paddock to get comfortable with horseback riding. However, the highlight here is the beach trail ride, where you can gallop across the wide sands of Myeongsasimni while on horseback. If you visit at sunset, you'll be treated to a stunning view as the west coast is bathed in golden light.

Not far from Hygge Farm Gochang Beach Horseback Riding Club, you'll find Sangha Farm, Seonunsa Temple, and Hagwon Farm. Operated by Maeil Dairies, Sangha Farm is a "rural theme village" that combines a petting zoo, workshops, farmers' market, and accommodations. Seonunsa, nestled in the Dosolcheon Valley of Seonunsan Provincial Park, is a temple with a history spanning about 1,500 years and is home to many national heritage treasures. Hagwon Farm, featured in the drama "Bombshell Love," is famous for its beautiful waves of green barley every spring.

#Live a Day as a Haenyeo: Haenyeo Diving Experience at Hado Fishing Village

Tourists posing for a commemorative photo holding Taewak and Mangsari

Haenyeo Waiting for the Tide

In Korea, surrounded on three sides by the sea, the ocean has always been a precious source of livelihood alongside the land. If the land was the basis for agriculture, the sea was the main stage for hunting and gathering, long before farming began. Among those who have built their lives by the sea, "haenyeo" (female divers) are indispensable. While haenyeo are most famously associated with Jeju Island, they can also be found along the coasts of Busan, Namhae, and Donghae, as well as in Japan, Southeast Asia, and Russia. According to a survey by the Jeju Provincial Government's Haenyeo Cultural Heritage and Policy Team, as of the end of 2024, there are 2,623 haenyeo on Jeju Island, with 186 (7%) residing in Hado-ri, Gujwa-eup?the area with the highest number of active haenyeo on the island. The "Hado Fishing Village Haenyeo Diving Experience" is a multi-sensory program where you can dive with working haenyeo. Participants wear the same equipment as the haenyeo, go into the sea together, collect seafood, and taste what they catch.

This experience is offered twice a day (at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) from April to October, lasting about two hours each session, and costs 40,000 won per person. All necessary equipment?suit, goggles, fins, taewak, mangsari, bitchang, and kakkuri?is provided for rental. Why not spend a day experiencing the life of a haenyeo and help preserve and remember this globally significant cultural heritage?

If you combine this with a visit to the "Jeju Haenyeo Museum," established in 2006 to preserve the value of Jeju's haenyeo culture through various materials and literature, and "Haenyeoui Bueok," a restaurant that combines performances telling the stories of haenyeo with meals prepared with their dedication, you'll enjoy an even richer haenyeo-themed journey.

#Barefoot Youth! The Super Earthing Hotspot: Kijipo Beach in Taean

'Earthing' is a compound word of Earth and the progressive form ing, referring to the act of receiving the Earth's energy by making barefoot contact with the ground.

Tourists walking along Taean Beach Trail Course 5

When you leave your footprints, the waves wash them away. If you press your feet firmly into the sand, the wind gently fills them in. "Earthing" is a compound word of "earth" and the progressive form "ing," referring to the act of making barefoot contact with the ground to absorb the Earth's energy. The most common way to do this is by walking barefoot. Static electricity in the body is discharged into the ground, while the body's negative ions are replenished from the earth. Walking on sandy beaches is said to enhance the effects of earthing, which is why it's called "super earthing."

While you can enjoy super earthing anywhere by simply kicking off your socks, Kijipo Exploration Center in Taean offers added convenience with foot-washing stations and shoe racks. The super earthing section is 1.89 km in total, split into two courses starting from the Kijipo Exploration Center: Course 1 runs 1.09 km to Sambong Beach, and Course 2 extends 0.8 km to Changjeonggyo Bridge toward Kkotji Beach. Both are easy walking trails that can be completed in about two hours round-trip. As the only coastal national park in Korea, this section includes the "Noeul-gil" (Sunset Road), considered the highlight of the 170.3 km Taean Beach Trail. Taean, a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, boasts a coastline of about 559 km. Along this route, seven courses have been created?Wave Road, Pine Sand Road, Sunset Road, Star Road, Wind Road, and more?each with its own beach trail. You can walk as much as you like from Kijipo Beach, enjoying super earthing all the way. The salty sea air is just the prelude; the wide, exotic sand dunes are truly breathtaking. With Kkotji Beach, which has been selected for the "Korea Tourism 100" seven times in a row, the floral scents of the Taean World Tulip Festival, and the nourishing taste of rockfish soup made from dried rockfish, this is a perfect course for both health and enjoyment. Head to Taean for the ultimate experience.

#Artistic Vibes on Two Wheels: Shindo, Sido, and Modo

Modo Baemikkumi Sculpture Park

Shindo is an island located between Yongyu-do and Ganghwa-do in Incheon, just a 10-minute ferry ride from Sammok Pier. Shindo, Sido, and Modo are connected by bridges, making it possible to tour all three islands on foot, by bicycle, or by bike. There are rental shops near Shindo Pier where you can rent bicycles or bikes. Due to the hilly nature of the island roads, it's best to consider carefully before choosing a bicycle. For first-time bike riders, the shop owner will provide instructions on how to operate them.

Soon after setting off, you enter Shindo's cherry blossom road, which in May turns a fresh shade of green.

Sido is home to administrative offices such as the Bukdo Township Office, post office, and community facilities. On Modo, you can visit the Baemikkumi Sculpture Park, where you can enjoy a variety of sculptures by artist Lee Ilho set against the backdrop of the sea.

The journey ends with a peaceful stroll at Sugi Beach and Shindo Cathedral. With its natural beauty, art, and tranquility, all within a day, this is an ideal nearby getaway.