Hwajinpo Beach: How to Enjoy the 1.7 km Sandy Shore and Hwajinpo Lake Together

The Actual Scale of Hwajinpo Beach: A 1.7 km Sandy Shore and 1–1.5 m Water Depth

Hwajinpo Beach is located at 386 Hwajinpo-gil, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon State. The beach is 1.7 km long and about 70 m wide, with a stated water depth of 1–1.5 m. The gently sloping sandy shore and relatively shallow water make it suitable for planning swimming and a beach walk together.

The beach sand is described as containing monazite, formed over many years as seashells and rocks broke down. Tourist information also mentions that the sand makes a sound when stepped on and that ants do not live there, so instead of simply taking photos, you can walk along the beach and observe the texture of the sand.

From Its Opening in 1973 to Its Designation as a National Tourist Site in 1990

Hwajinpo Beach opened in 1973. It was later designated a national tourist site on November 24, 1990, and basic facilities such as parking lots, expanded and paved access roads, and restrooms were established. The current availability of amenities and parking at the beach is connected to this tourist-site development process.

The area around the beach features pine forests, oddly shaped rock formations, migratory birds, and rugosa roses. Hwajinpo Lake is described as having been named for the scenery of rugosa roses blooming along its shores. The lake has a circumference of 16 km and is promoted as the largest natural lake on the east coast. Although the beach and lake are close to each other, the attractions are spread out, so traveling by section is more suitable than trying to walk everything in one course.

Take Bus 10-1 from Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal or Ganseong Intercity Bus Terminal

For public transportation, official information recommends taking Bus 10-1 from Ganseong Intercity Bus Terminal and getting off at Daejin Middle and High School stop. From Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, take Bus 10-1 at the Korea Electric Power Corporation stop and get off at Daejin Middle and High School, while from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, you can take the same Bus 10-1 at the Express Bus Terminal stop.

The current interval of Bus 10-1 and the walking distance from Daejin Middle and High School stop to the beach are not confirmed in the available information. Therefore, rather than creating a tightly scheduled day trip using only buses, it is safer to check departure times before leaving and allow extra time for travel between the beach and nearby villas and museums. Official information states that it takes about 50 minutes by car from downtown Sokcho.

• Driving destination: Enter “Hwajinpo Beach” in your navigation system
• Another address in official information: 99 Chodo-ri, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun
• Public transportation stop: Daejin Middle and High School

Free Beach, Facility Fees from 06:00 to 24:00 in July and August, and Parking

Admission to Hwajinpo Beach itself is listed as free. It is open year-round, with no regular closing days. Separate seasonal information lists operating hours in July and August as 06:00–24:00. The tourist information phone number is 033-680-3356, and the official website is http://hwajinpobeach.co.kr.

Parking is available, with listed fees of 5,000 won per day for small vehicles and 10,000 won per day for medium and large vehicles. The beach is described as having shower, water-supply, and parking facilities, but it has not been confirmed whether the current fees for showers, parasols, and tubes apply or whether cash and card payments are accepted.

• Shower booth: Listed as 3,000 won for adults
• Parasol rental: Listed as 15,000 won
• Large tube: Listed as 10,000 won

Step-Free Main Entrance and Accessible Restrooms: Points to Note at the Beach

The main entrance to Hwajinpo Beach is described as wheelchair accessible because it has no step, and an accessible restroom is available. However, movement across beach sand differs from using a paved entrance, so it cannot be guaranteed that the entire sandy shore can be traversed by wheelchair or stroller.

The beach is open year-round, but the 2026 opening and closing dates, restricted swimming areas, photography-prohibited areas, and availability of English information and audio guides have not been confirmed. Visitors planning to use water-play facilities should check on-site operations separately from the July and August information of 06:00–24:00. When visiting nearby facilities as well, it is advisable to plan separately for sandy beach sections and vehicle travel sections.

From Hwajinpo Castle to Geumgudo: Places to See Alongside the Beach

Attractions around Hwajinpo Beach include Hwajinpo Castle, the Syngman Rhee Villa, the Yi Ki-bung Villa, and the Hwajinpo Marine Museum. Hwajinpo Castle is also called the Kim Il-sung Villa and is described as a building used as a chapel by foreign missionary Sherwood Hall. The view of Geumgudo, a rocky island visible from the building, is also presented as one of the sights in this area.

The Yi Ki-bung Villa is a building constructed by foreign missionaries in the 1920s and is described as having been used as a private villa by Park Maria, Yi Ki-bung’s wife. The Hwajinpo Marine Museum consists of a shell exhibition hall and a fish exhibition hall displaying approximately 1,500 species and 40,000 items, including shells, crustaceans, corals, fossils, and taxidermied specimens.

Plan a Visit by Car in Sections, Including the Hwajinpo Lake Ecological Museum

At the Hwajinpo Lake Ecological Museum, visitors can reportedly learn about the formation of Hwajinpo Lake and its plant and animal ecosystems through taxidermy, skeletons, fossils, videos, and physical models. Because the beach, lake, museum, and villas are spread over a wide area, it is more practical to visit these places by dividing the trip into sections by car rather than treating them as one continuous walking course.

Review-based information suggests an itinerary covering the beach and surrounding areas in about 30–40 minutes, but this is closer to a quick visit to each place. Rather than attempting to walk around the entire lake, another suggested option is to make a round trip along the flat section near Hwajinpo Beach. If you plan to enter the marine museum and villas, schedule additional time apart from the beach walk.

Summer Events and the Sunrise Festival: Scenery That Varies by Time of Visit

Official information states that beer tasting events, beach singing contests, face painting, windsurfing, and other activities were held every summer. Summer is suitable if your focus is beach use, given the shallow water and the listed July–August operating hours of 06:00–24:00, but whether events will be held and the 2026 schedule have not been confirmed.

The Hwajinpo Sunrise Festival is said to be held every year, with military band performances, a candle-lighting ceremony for wishes, wish-balloon releases, and sunrise events. Visitors planning to watch the New Year’s sunrise should distinguish between the beach’s year-round opening and the separate festival schedule. Boat fishing and motorboats are also introduced as activities in the area; past information lists the Hwajinpo boat-fishing fee as 150,000 won and the contact number as 033-682-5700.