If you love the beach life even when it’s not Hawaii, you will LOVE Korea. Taean-gun is filled with fun beaches for exploring. You don’t want to miss out on a day eating out and exploring this area.
About the west coast beaches in South Korea
The west coast of Korea is known for shallow waters, minimal to no waves, expansive sand, digging for shellfish, and a relaxed atmosphere. This isn’t Hawaii or Mexico and they aren’t trying to be. Korea has a beach vibe all its own.
A few recommendations when packing for the beach in Korea
When you go to the beach we recommend taking a tent to pitch on the beach or a camping platform. This is what all the cool kids do. The tent gives you a place to hide from the sun and keep your things gathered while you wander around. You can get a cheap one at Homeplus or Emart for about 30,000 that will last you for years. If you don’t being a tent you can often rent an umbrella spot for the day for around 30,000 won all day.
We also make sure to take a cooler for drinks and snacks. Of course, they are usually drinks and snacks at beaches but the cooler means we don’t have to leave the beach to get things.
At the beach, folks usually wear long-sleeved shirts, swimming shorts, a hat, and lots of sunblock. We highly recommend following their example. The beach is so much more fun when you don’t burn and can play in the water all day with no stress.
Swimming season in South Korea
In Korea, there is a swimming season. That means they have lifeguards and systems there to protect you from downing. This is usually from late July-August. During that time there are also far more services open at the beach. However, people swim year-round here. We just don’t do it at the famous beaches like in Busan where they will call the cops. We go to smaller spots like Taean and wear wetsuits when it’s cold. We LOVE going year-round even if we only sit still and watch the sea.
West coast beach restaurant scene
The beaches often don’t have tons of western restaurants, but that’s slowly changing. If you hate seafood or Korean food, you might want to pack a lunch just in case. We LOVE seafood so we look forward to every trip to the seaside where we stuff our faces with sashimi, shellfish, noodles, and more.
The Taean beaches we like to visit
Here are some beaches we love to visit in Taen. The drive time from Pyeongtaek varies based on where you live. It can take anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours to drive there. Remember that traffic is likely to be bad coming back at 6 pm so return around 5 pm or after 8 pm to avoid the killer traffic home.
Please note that Taean beaches are not easily accessible by public transit. It’s possible (we have done it many times) but takes forever. These beaches are best accessed by car or motorbike.
Check out these 5 Taean beaches this summer!
Mallipo Beach
041-672-9662
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 소원면 모항리 1394
Popular west coast beach with lots of activities like paddle boarding, surfing, ATV, etc. The water is shallow with generally small surf. Dogs are allowed on leash. Dogs must be picked up after.
Yeonpo Swimming Beach
041-670-2114
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 근흥면 연포2길 57
Deeper water than other west coast beaches, this beach sits in a small fishing and pension village. This is a more rural and relaxed beach with a strong, older Korean vibe. Wonderful for those who want off the beaten path. There are Korean restaurants, stores, pensions, diving, and camping. Dogs are allowed at the beach. Dogs must be leashed. Pick up after the dogs.
Cheongpo Beach
000-000-0000
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 남면 안면대로 1296-26
This beach is shallow and long. Great for families and people with dogs. You can camp or find a pension or minbok for the night.
Anmyeon Swimming Beach
041-670-2691
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 안면읍 정당리 산28-55
A long shallow beach in a more remote setting. Very relaxed and not a lot of services. It is in a national park so they may not allow dogs.
Flower Paper Swimming Beach
000-000-000
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 안면읍 꽃지해안로 310
A long narrow, shallow beach that’s very busy and active in the summer. Lots to do.
You can add your own favorite beaches and share them with others!
These are not all the beaches in Taean. When you find another beach you love and it is not in the app, be sure to add it! Sharing cool spots makes life more enjoyable for all of the English-speaking residents that come along next.
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 who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure 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.
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
