Yangyang Beach with a 1.5 km Sandy Shore and Hajodae Pavilion

Why Visit Hajodae Beach in Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County

Hajodae Beach is located in Hagaeongjeong-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and is also known as Hajodae Beach. The road-name address registered by the Korea Tourism Organization is 35 Hajodaehaean-gil, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

The beach is 12 km south of Yangyang County and 1 km north of the 38th parallel. Hajodae, introduced as the fifth of the Eight Scenic Views of Yangyang, lies to the south, making this a destination where visitors can combine the beach with a pavilion and observation deck rather than simply viewing the sand.

The 1975 Opening and the Background of the Name Hajodae

Hajodae Beach was opened to the general public in July 1975 and designated as a model beach in 1984. Yangyang County’s tourism information states that, since first opening in 1976, it has operated as a beach and campground every year from July 10 to August 20, so the date of general opening differs from the opening year listed in the tourism information.

Hajodae, south of the beach, takes its name from a hexagonal pavilion where Ha Ryun and Jo Jun are said to have taken refuge and spent their later years at the end of the Goryeo period. The name Hajodae was formed from the surnames of the two men and continues today as the name of the beach and as part of the regional scenic context represented by the fifth of the Eight Scenic Views of Yangyang.

A Beach Landscape Shaped by a 1.5 km Sandy Shore and 0.5–1.5 m Water Depth

The sandy beach at Hajodae Beach is approximately 1.5 km long and up to 100 m wide. Yangyang County’s tourism information lists its area as 7,562.5 m² and its water depth as 0.5–1.5 m, explaining that the depth is approximately 1.5 m even 70 m out from the shore.

The sandy beach has a gentle slope and good-quality sand, with a pine forest behind it. Gwangjeongcheon flows into the East Sea near Hajodae at the southern end, while Sanguncheon flows through the middle, supplying sand from both streams. It is also explained that the mixture of fresh and seawater makes the water temperature relatively higher than at other beaches on the East Coast.

The Difference Between the Surfing Beach in the North and the Rocky Coast in the South

The beach to the north was controlled as a military facility protection zone for approximately 40 years before opening as a surfing-only beach in 2015. Rather than assuming that the entire beach is used in the same way, it is best to understand first that the northern section is designated for surfing.

Strange rock formations are scattered along the southern coast, and wave-cut rocks rise at intervals in the middle of the beach. The Hajodae Pavilion and Skywalk observation deck are also near the beach, making it possible to combine a walk along the sand with views of the rocky coast and observation facilities. However, no current detailed information has been confirmed regarding water-sports restrictions or the deployment of safety personnel.

Facilities Actually Available at the 24-Hour Free Beach

The Korea Tourism Organization lists Hajodae Beach as open 24 hours with free admission. Parking is available, and parking fees are also listed as free. However, Yangyang County’s tourism information states that the beach and campground operate every year from July 10 to August 20, so the scope of off-season access should not be understood as identical to current peak-season operations.

On-site facilities include a parking lot, shower booths, drinking fountains, and restrooms. Information states that visitors may pay to set up tents at the beach or in the pine-forest campground during summer, but current tent fees, shower and changing-room fees, and whether payment is cash-only have not been confirmed in the available materials. Accessibility of the sandy beach and restrooms for wheelchairs and strollers also requires separate confirmation.

From Seoul to Hwagwangjeong-ri via Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal

From Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal, the first bus departs at 07:05 and the last at 22:30, with a journey of approximately 2 hours 38 minutes. Services departing from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal are listed as running from 06:30 to 18:40, with a travel time of approximately 2 hours 10 minutes. Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal began operating on July 1, 2022, and its operating hours are 06:00–22:00.

Instructions indicate taking a rural bus bound for Jigyeong-ri from Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal, getting off at Hwagwangjeong-ri Stop, and then walking to the beach. Hajodae Terminal is approximately 1.4 km on foot from Hajodae Beach, while the exact bus route number and interval have not been confirmed in the available materials. Yangyang County public transportation information website: https://www.yangyang-pti.com; call center: 080-850-9486.

By car, Yangyang County estimates approximately 2 hours 10 minutes from Seoul via the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway and approximately 2 hours 30 minutes via the Yeongdong Expressway. The address of Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal is 2700 Donghae-daero, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and its telephone number is 033-672-410.

A 1.3–1.6 km Route Connecting the Hajodae Pavilion and Observation Deck

Hajodae tourist site is approximately 1.3 km from the beach, and Hajodae Observation Deck is approximately 1.6 km away. The address of Hajodae tourist site is 31 Hajodaehaean-gil, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, and the address of Hajodae Observation Deck is 54 Haryun-gil, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, Gangwon Province.

A little farther away, Junggwangjeong Beach and Surfyy Beach are approximately 1.5 km away, and Gisamun Port is approximately 1.7 km away. Dongho Beach is approximately 6.2 km away and Jukdo Beach approximately 6.6 km away, so visitors with a car can link several beaches together. Eoseongjeon Takjangsa Village is introduced as a place offering accommodation and activities, approximately 10 minutes away.

No official recommended duration for viewing the individual beaches has been confirmed. Therefore, public-transport users should plan cautiously, keeping in mind that they must walk 1.4 km from Hajodae Terminal and that the distance increases if they also visit the Hajodae Pavilion and observation deck.

Telephone, Official Information, and Limitations of the Summer Event Schedule

Hajodae Beach is managed by the Hagaeongjeong-ri Village Association, and the inquiry telephone number listed in Yangyang County’s tourism information is 033-672-2346. The Korea Tourism Organization also lists 033-672-2346 as the inquiry number. Badaon separately registers the Hagaeongjeong-ri Village Association’s contact number as 033-670-2641, so visitors may see two inquiry contacts.

The official tourism website is https://tour.yangyang.go.kr/. Its English information page indicates 24-hour operation and free admission and parking, but the official pages do not agree on whether it is open year-round, so specific closing days cannot be determined. The available materials also do not confirm whether English information or an audio guide is provided, or whether photography is prohibited.

Since 2002, the summer beach festival “Saranghae (Sea) Summer Festival” has been held, featuring events such as catching squid with bare hands. Because whether the event is currently held and its dates may change, visitors planning a trip around the festival should schedule their visit based on the latest notices from Yangyang County’s tourism information.