ContentsView article sectionsAbout Beaches in South KoreaWhat to Wear on South Korean BeachesKorean Swimming SeasonCommon Korean Swimming Beach AmenitiesSwimming Beaches Adventure Map20 Beaches Across South KoreaJoin the Pyeongtaek Travelers GroupVolunteer with South of SeoulDo you love the beach? Then grab your best summer or winter beach wear and visit the 20 Top Swimming Beaches in South Korea! About Beaches in South Korea Since Korea exists on a peninsula, we are surrounded by stunning beaches on three sides. On the west coast, Korea is known for long, shallow beaches which may have low or no waves. On the east coast, Korean beaches may have bigger waves, quick drop-off, and stunning turquoise waters. Whereas, in the south, Korean beaches may be rockier and offer pleasant swimming late into the year. Perfect for fall travel. Korean beaches don’t pretend to be tropical and anyone who compares Korean beaches to Hawaii or California set Korea up to fail expectations. However, Korean beaches have their own look and vibe. The vibe involves beach combing, camping, Korean seafood dishes, fishing, surfing, and more. What to Wear on South Korean Beaches Over the years, Korean beach wear has become more diverse. However, as a rule of thumb, the local population (international residents and Koreans) often prefer to stay covered and protected from the sun. Skin damage and skin cancer aren’t as sexy as they once were. Of course, if you choose to wear a swimsuit that’s completely your choice and certainly does not offend most people. In short, don’t stress too much about what you wear at the beach. Therefore, go forth and enjoy the sand and beaches! Korean Swimming Season Although many Koreans swim throughout the year at different beaches (except those in Busan and other highly controlled urban areas), Korea has an official swimming season. The official ‘Swimming Season’ in South Korea is from about mid-July to sometime in August. Swimming Season is when beaches are at their height of popularity. Therefore, popular and rural Korean beaches are filled with visitors, lifeguards, public showers, activities, and all the businesses are open and supporting visitors. It’s beach party time. During ‘Swimming Season’ your activities will be restricted to certain marked swimming areas that are strictly patrolled by lifeguards on jet skies. You may find this strange if you come from parts of the world where swimming in the sea and ocean is an unrestricted activity. However, you can quickly adjust and find tons of joy within the limited area. During the off-season, you can still visit the beaches and be allowed to swim at most of them, except in areas like Busan and other extremely popular beaches that have begun enforcing beach closures during different times of the year. Basically, during the off-season, you can pretty much do what you want in the sea but most support services like lifeguards and public showers will be closed. However, public restrooms are often -but not always – still open. Common Korean Swimming Beach Amenities Korean swimming beaches, especially during “swimming season” offer many amenities which may include such things as: Swimming Beaches Adventure Map Want to make it easier to stay on top of your beach trip planning? Celebrate your beach adventures with a South of Seoul Adventure Map. South of Seoul prints each Swimming Beach Adventure Map on A3 canvas for durability. Also, they can be shipped to your location in South Korea or within the United States. This makes the perfect celebration of your beach travels! 20 Beaches Across South Korea You can find each of these beaches at the following addresses! Also, we have organized them in the same order as found on the Swimming Beaches Adventure Map! Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. SOUTH OF SEOUL EDITORIAL INFORMATION Article Information & History Historical Record Originally written by South of Seoul Originally published June 25, 2022 Article History August 11, 2023 Article edited Less than 1% of the article changed October 20, 2022 Article edited About 3% of the article changed June 25, 2022 Originally published Written by South of Seoul No formal audit has been recorded for this article under the current South of Seoul editorial process. 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