From the Beach Opened in 1965 to Dongbaek Island: A 1.5 km Walk in Haeundae

Haeundae Beach Today, Shaped by Its Official Opening in 1965

Haeundae Beach is located at 264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, and officially opened in 1965 under the name “Haeundae Beach.” During the Japanese colonial period, students underwent summer training on the sandy beach in this area, and records remain that U.S. military personnel also enjoyed sea bathing here during the Korean War.

The beach is easy to understand as the coastline lying between Dongbaekseom and Dalmaji Hill. Local historical materials from Busan explain that the width of the sandy beach narrowed as the flow of rivers and seawater changed before and after the reclamation of Suyeong Bay, and that the current width has been maintained by replenishing the sand. In other words, this long sandy beach is a landscape created not only by natural terrain but also by urban development and coastal management.

• Road-name address: 264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
• Haeundae-gu Tourism Facilities Office inquiries: 051-749-7611
• Official opening of the beach: 1965

June 26–September 15, 2026: Swimming from 09:00 to 18:00

The 2026 operating period for Haeundae Beach runs for 82 days, from June 26 to September 15, and daily safety-management hours during this period are 09:00–18:00. The beach itself can be enjoyed for walking regardless of the season, but it is safest to plan swimming and the deployment of safety personnel around these dates and hours.

During the operating period, surveillance is conducted from 10 watchtowers, and two patrol teams are organized with six members each. Seven emergency rescue boxes and one automated external defibrillator (AED) are installed. Since safety personnel finish operating after 6 p.m., it is best to change evening plans to walking along the sandy beach and viewing the coastal lighting rather than entering the sea.

• 2026 opening period: June 26–September 15
• Safety operating hours: 09:00–18:00
• Admission: Free
• Days closed: None

₩10,000 for a Parasol and ₩1,000 for a Shower: 2026 Costs to Pay On-Site

In 2026, parasols (including a beach mat), tubes, and beach beds each cost ₩10,000 per use, while life jackets cost ₩5,000 per use. Tube inflation costs ₩2,000 for a small tube, ₩3,000 for a large one, and ₩4,000 for large boats and similar items. In Haeundae, these items can be rented from July 1 to August 31.

Use of the shower and changing facilities costs ₩1,000 per 60 seconds. Locker fees are ₩1,000 for a small locker, ₩3,000 for a medium locker, and ₩4,000 for a large locker. If you plan to stay on the sandy beach for a long time, budget separately for rental and locker fees; to reduce your luggage, it is better to bring your own waterproof pouch and towel.

• Parasol (including beach mat): ₩10,000 per use
• Life jacket: ₩5,000 per use
• Shower and changing facilities: ₩1,000 per 60 seconds
• Lockers: small ₩1,000 · medium ₩3,000 · large ₩4,000

A 15-Minute Walk from Exit 5 of Haeundae Station on Line 2 to the Sandy Beach

For public transportation, the most official guidance is to walk approximately 15 minutes from Exit 5 of Haeundae Station on Busan Metro Line 2 to Haeundae Beach. If visiting for the first time, walk down from the station toward Gunam-ro and continue to the beach. Facing the sandy beach, use the landmarks of Dalmaji and Mipo to the right and Dongbaekseom to the left to make navigation easier.

When traveling from Busan Station, you can take the Busan City Tour Red Line and get off at the Haeundae Beach stop. Drivers can use the Haeundae Beach public parking lot, but should consider possible waiting times for parking in July, August, and on weekends. If you plan to swim during the 09:00–18:00 period, it is particularly advisable to arrive in the morning and plan your return by subway to reduce uncertainties in your route.

• Metro: Exit 5, Haeundae Station on Line 2; approximately 15 minutes on foot
• City tour: Busan Station Red Line → get off at Haeundae Beach
• Parking: Haeundae Beach public parking lot available
• Recommended visit duration: 1–2 hours for the beach alone, or 3–4 hours including Dongbaekseom

The Western End Extending to Dongbaekseom: How to Add Nurimaru and The Bay 101

At the western end of the beach, the route naturally continues toward Dongbaekseom. Combining only Haeundae Beach and the Dongbaekseom walking trail usually takes 2–3 hours; adding Nurimaru APEC House and The Bay 101 makes a half-day itinerary reasonable. From the sandy beach, walk toward Dongbaekseom, then take the coastal trail around the island before heading to The Bay 101 to view the direction of Marine City. This order reduces the amount of backtracking.

The area near The Bay 101 is approximately 242 m from the Dongbaekseom Entrance bus stop, or about a 4-minute walk, and buses 100, 100-1, 1003, 141, and 40 pass nearby. By subway, it is about 9 minutes from Dongbaek Station on Line 2; The Bay 101’s own directions indicate a 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Dongbaek Station. Rather than ending your trip at the beach, walk around Dongbaekseom first and come out at The Bay 101 around sunset, which also makes it easier to choose transportation for your evening return.

• Recommended duration including Dongbaekseom, Nurimaru, and The Bay 101: 4–6 hours
• Buses near The Bay 101: 100, 100-1, 1003, 141, and 40
• Dongbaekseom Entrance stop: approximately 4 minutes on foot to The Bay 101
• Dongbaek Station on Line 2: approximately 9–10 minutes on foot to The Bay 101

May Sand Festival and Winter Light Festival: Haeundae in the Non-Swimming Seasons

Haeundae does not need to be planned only around the summer swimming season. In May, the Haeundae Sand Festival uses the sandy beach like an outdoor sand-sculpture exhibition, while from late November to early February, the Haeundae Light Festival installs displays along the beach and surrounding streets. If the summer crowds are burdensome, walking along the sandy beach and Dongbaekseom during the season when water-play equipment is not operating may better suit your purpose.

Yonhap News’ seasonal guide to Haeundae reports that during the Busan International Film Festival in October, the atmosphere of film events expands throughout Haeundae, including Centum City, where the Busan Cinema Center is located. The Homeplus Centum City branch at the coordinates provided by the user is not at the address of Haeundae Beach but in the Centum City area. Therefore, if your purpose is to visit the beach, set the navigation destination separately to “264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan.”

• May: Haeundae Sand Festival period
• Late November–early February: Haeundae Light Festival period
• October: Possibility of combining the Busan International Film Festival with the Centum City area
• Navigation destination: 264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan

“Haeundae Where People Gather,” Seen Through Eight Sandy-Beach Records

The Haeundae-gu Media Center has made archival photographs of Haeundae Beach from the 1970s available, while Yonhap News also recorded the large vacation crowds of 2003 and 2005 and the parasol-filled beachscape of 2008 in photographs. Rather than explaining Haeundae through the landscape of a single period, it is a place where visitors can read the changes of an urban beach that expanded into a popular summer resort.

As the photographic records show, the sandy beach during peak season may not suit people expecting a quiet coastal walk. In that case, choose around 09:00, just after opening, or a season outside summer. If your itinerary is focused on urban coastal scenery rather than waves and sand, walking continuously through Dongbaekseom, Marine City, and Centum City may be more suitable.