“Must-Visit Places in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province”
This is a summary of the cultural highlights of the city of Gangneung in Gangwon Province, South Korea, as detailed in a travel blog. “In this guidebook, we introduce the must-visit places in Gangneung, a city located in Gangwon Province known for its unique cultural attractions and beautiful scenery.”
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Gangneung City, Gangwon Province: Dokjik Beach
Dojik Beach is a 500m long, 50,000㎡ makeshift beach located in the southernmost part of Okgye-myeon, Gangneung. It was named ‘Dojik’ because the beach is straight. With the opening of the Donghae Expressway, the village was divided into two and the original village disappeared. Just like its name, Dojik Beach is a rare place where five lanes including national roads, railways, expressways, air routes, and sea routes run parallel. The beach has clean sand and a spacious parking lot, making it a quiet beach popular among families. For accommodation, you can stay in a guesthouse. There is a makeshift parking lot of about 3,000㎡ and a camping site where about 66 tents can be set up on an area of 1,000㎡. Dojik Beach is a military area with barbed wire fences, creating a solemn atmosphere and a sense of looming fear, reminding visitors of the pain of division once again. Many people enjoy swimming at Dojik Beach, but there are also many anglers who come to catch fish and enjoy the serenity.
• Address (location): Dojik-ri, Okgye-myeon, Gangneung City, Gangwon Province
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: ‘Gyeongpo Beach (Gyeongpo Haesuyokjang)’
Dangmyeon Jungdongjin Beach in Gangdong-myeon offers a picturesque 800m-long shoreline with a spacious 24,000m² sandy beach, ample parking, and a dense pine forest perfect for camping. Located approximately 240km southeast of Seoul, it is just 8km south of Gangneung, 12km from Donghae City, and 80km from Sokcho. Accessible via the Yeongdong Line railway, Donghae Expressway, National Route 7, and in close proximity to the area. Dangmyeon Beach boasts well-maintained facilities including walking paths, commercial areas with pavement blocks, parking lots, and camping amenities. Within a 2km radius to the north, you can explore historic sites like the 6.25 Memorial, Dangmyeon Nakga Pagoda, a 5-story stone tower, and a carbonated spring. Additionally, iconic KBS and MBC broadcasting towers stand nearby, offering a panoramic view of Gangneung district for visitors to enjoy.
• Address (location): Jeongdongjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province.
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Saguenjin Beach
Located in Anhyeon-dong, Sagineun Beach is a makeshift beach with a length of 600m and an area of 24,000 square meters, adjacent to Gyeongpo Beach. The name “Sagineun” originated from a person who used to sell goods in the southern region of Samnam and settled here, living off a small boat to catch fish and sell goods, hence the name meaning “a place where a peddler lived on a boat.” Surrounding the beach are several clean guesthouses, as well as amenities such as changing rooms, water facilities, and parasols. Sagineun Beach, connected to Gyeongpo Beach, features a wide sandy shore and a beautiful pine forest, creating a picturesque natural landscape. With its clear blue sea and clean accommodation options nearby, Sagineun Beach attracts tourists with its charm and convenience.
• Address (location): 16, Haean-ro 604beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Sacheonjin Beach (Sacheon Backlit Beach)
Sacheonjin Beach is located in Sacheon-ri, Sacheon-myeon, with shallow waters and a wide sandy beach. Adjacent to Sacheon Port, you can buy and taste fresh seafood at a reasonable price. There are clean guesthouses nearby, making it a great place to stay for a few days. Sacheonjin Beach is popular among people who enjoy sea fishing at Sacheon Port. Throughout the year, you can catch rockfish and flatfish, while in spring you’ll find sensuous black porgy, summer brings mackerel, and autumn offers plenty of saury. Just a 5-minute drive from Gyeongpodae, it’s about a 10-minute drive from Gangneung city center, but it maintains a peaceful and serene view of the sea that is incomparable to the bustling city.
• Address (location): 111 Jinri Beach Road, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Sacheon Beach (Sacheon Seaside)
Sacheon Beach is a 300m-long, 18,000㎡ stretch of beach located between Gyeongpo Beach and Yeongok Beach, known for its peaceful and clean surroundings. Opened on July 1, 1975, it is adjacent to Gyeongpo Provincial Park and attracts many visitors each year. With a wide pine forest, pristine white sand, and shallow waters, it’s a perfect spot for a quiet and relaxing getaway. The fragrant scent and cool shade from the pine trees create a wonderful atmosphere for creating lasting memories. Nearby Anmok Beach is a less crowded and tranquil seaside spot where the sea shines like an emerald jewel, giving off a vibe of being in a foreign coastal paradise. While Gyeongpodae is popular among young lovers, Sacheon Beach is a favorite destination for scuba divers, fishermen, and families due to its clear waters and gentle waves. The sea changes colors with the seasons, attracting visitors to enjoy the beauty of each season. Additionally, with a great environment for auto camping, Sacheon Beach is considered a paradise for auto camping enthusiasts. The auto camping site offers a cozy camping experience surrounded by the delightful scent of pine trees.
• Address (location): 282-1 Sacheonjinli Mountain, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Kangwon Gangneung City ‘Sodol Beach’
Sodol Beach is located next to Gangneung’s Jumunjin Beach. The sandy shore is oval-shaped, measuring 500m in length and covering an area of 35,000㎡. The entire village is said to resemble a resting cow, earning it the name Sodol Rock, with surrounding cliffs covered in volcanic rock formations and a rock resembling a cow in the foreground. The oval beach features soft, gently sloping sands with shallow waters ideal for clam-picking. Convenient facilities such as restrooms, changing rooms, and showers are available, and there’s a 1,650㎡ pine forest for camping. Nearby Jumunjin Port, Uamjin Port, and Orizin Port offer fresh seafood at affordable prices, and visitors can rent boats for enjoyable flounder fishing trips. The beach operates as a swimming destination from July 15th to August 20th each year.
• Address (location): 1993 Haeann-ro, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung, Gangwon Province
Gangwon Gangneung City ‘Songjeong Beach (Songjeong Seaside Beach)
Located in Songjeong-dong, this beach stretches 700 meters with an area of 28,000 square meters. The surrounding pine forest is well-known. Legend has it that during the Goryeo Dynasty, King Chungseok’s mother, Choi Mun-han, brought eight pine trees from Songdo to Gangneung and planted them here, calling it Pal Songjeong. Over time, it became known simply as Songjeong. At the entrance facing the road, there are benches and a small snack bar where visitors can enjoy a drink while admiring the sea, making it a popular spot for those who prefer a scenic drive over swimming. The beach is lined with pine trees on both sides, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
• Address (location): 20-3 Songjeong-gil 30beonan-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
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Gangneung City, Gangwon Province: Sunpo Beach
Sokcho Beach is located about a 10-minute drive from downtown Gangneung and Gyeongpodae. The sandy beach with shallow waters is perfect for swimming and offers a peaceful atmosphere with pine forests lining the shore. Although there is no dedicated parking lot, visitors can use the parking lot near Jungjeok Beach, which connects to Sokcho Beach. Nearby attractions like Sacheon Port, Jungjeok Wetland, and Jungjeok Beach are easily accessible for sightseeing.
• Address (location): 722, Haean-ro, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province
Gangneung City, Gangwon Province ‘Anmok Beach’
Located in Gyosodong, Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, Anmok Beach boasts a 500m long sandy shore spanning 2,000㎡, making it a perfect spot for families to enjoy. Adjacent to the beach is Anmok Port, where in spring you can find seaweed, in summer flounder, rockfish, squid, octopus, abalone, and clams, and in autumn and winter, sailfin sandfish, pollack, and sea bass caught by 23 fishing boats returning around 9 a.m. After the summer vacation season ends in late August, you may witness a spectacle of mackerel chasing anchovies to shore, sometimes using buckets and nets to catch the anchovy schools pushed in by the waves. Moreover, this beach is renowned for its Coffee Street, where you can savor coffee with a sea view.
• Address (location): 20-1 Changhae-ro 14-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Autonomous Province, South Korea
Gangneung City, Gangwon Province ‘Anin Beach (Anin Sea Bathing Beach)
Anin Beach is a place with many rocky areas, and the clear river water of Gunsungang flows into the sea, allowing visitors to enjoy freshwater bathing. The sandy beach is 1km long, 50m wide, with a slope of 10-20 degrees, making the sand fine and the water clear. It is a popular spot for tourists during the summer season, as it has all the conditions of a great beach with its shallow waters. While it may be difficult to find sandy areas due to the abundance of rocks instead of white sand, visitors can try catching clams, flounders, sea bream, and sea bass. Legend has it that at Haerangdang nearby, villagers built a stone wall and held ceremonies to calm the stormy seas and increase fish catch after a courtesan fell into the water and died, causing rough seas and swordfish to appear. In addition, there are attractions such as Aninjin Harbor, the infiltration site where a North Korean submarine infiltrated in 1996, military experience hiking trails, Deungmyeongnakasa, Deungmyeong Beach, Gyeongpodae, Sunyudo, Gangneung Ojukheon, and Jungdongjin. At Aninjin Harbor, visitors can rent boats for year-round sea fishing and enjoy activities like skin scuba diving.
• Address (location): Aninjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province
Discover Gangneung City’s Yeongok Beach (Yeongok Seaside)
Located in Dongdeok-ri, Yeongok-myeon, this area boasts a wide sandy beach stretching 700 meters with an area of 56,000 square meters. The lush pine forest makes it an ideal camping spot. Visitors can enjoy the pleasure of fishing for sweetfish in the clear Yeongokcheon stream flowing from the Salty River and watch children playing in the water and locals fishing along the riverbank. The surrounding area offers a variety of culinary delights, including spicy clupea harengus stew, flavorful native chicken, wild vegetable rice, and buckwheat noodles, enticing food lovers year-round. In the past, there was a train station in Dongdeok-ri and a vibrant market at Yeongokjang. This area thrived as a seaport with ships coming and going between Hamgyeong-do and Gyeongsang-do. Nearby, you’ll find the Salty River, which inspired the famous scholar Yi I to write the beautiful essay “Cheonghaksan-gi” praising the scenic beauty of the mountains. It’s a perfect destination for leisure tourism, offering both hiking and swimming opportunities. There is a temporary parking lot that can accommodate 40 cars per day and a camping site in a 13,220 square meter pine forest where 881 tents can be set up daily. This picturesque area is sure to captivate the hearts of international tourists seeking a peaceful retreat in nature.
• Address (location): 1282 Haean-ro, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Yeongjin Beach
Yeongjin Beach is a quiet and clean destination, perfect for families to enjoy a peaceful vacation. Located in a small fishing village, you can smell the fresh sea breeze in the air. Situated right next to a gentle harbor, it attracts many visitors during the vacation season. About 60 fishing households with 35 fishing boats catch a lot of flounders and clams from February to October. Yeongjin Port is famous for abundant fish, attracting many fishing enthusiasts. The carp festival, held once every three years, can offer tourists a unique experience. ◎ Experience the charm of Hallyu – Drama This is the place where Euntak celebrates her nineteenth birthday alone, blowing out the candles on her cake. As if by fate, she meets Kim Shin. Kim Shin hands her a buckwheat flower, symbolizing ‘lover,’ hinting at their future together. The breakwater where they stood is still bustling with people taking pictures, cherishing memories of the Goblin couple.
• Address (location): 357-155 Yeongjin-ri, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea