5.4 km from Gungchon to Yonghwa: Samcheok Marine Rail Bike Linking Donghae Cliffs and Tunnels

Chogok Tunnels 1 and 2 and the Coastal Pine Path along the 5.4 km from Gungchon Station to Yonghwa Station

The Samcheok Ocean Rail Bike is a one-way 5.4 km course connecting Gungchon Station and Yonghwa Station in Geundeok-myeon, Samcheok, Gangwon State. The official course proceeds in the order of Gungchon Station, Chogok Rest Area, Chogok Tunnel 1, Hwang Young-jo Memorial Park, Chogok Tunnel 2, Yonghwa Tunnel, and Yonghwa Station, while the rail bike ride itself takes about one hour on average.

After departing from Gungchon Station, the 310–500 m section is lined with coastal pine trees on both sides of the track. The route also passes over a bridge crossing Chucheon Stream, and the midway Chogok Rest Area has a photo zone, rest area, and snack shop. Since this is not merely a short activity but a 5.4 km transit route along the coastline and through tunnels, it is safest to allow at least 1 hour and 30 minutes in your itinerary.

How a Railway Became a Coastal Activity Course: Reusing 5.4 km of the Geundeok-myeon Coast

Samcheok City introduces the Ocean Rail Bike, formed along 5.4 km of coastline, as a local marine tourism resource. Using tracks close to the sea, the facility connects the coastal scenery of Gungchon, Chogok, and Yonghwa into a single moving course. Its defining feature is that the view changes while traveling, rather than from a stationary observation deck.

Hwang Young-jo Memorial Park, located midway along the course, was created in his hometown village to commemorate Hwang Young-jo, the marathon gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. As the rail bike track was laid out to pass through the Chogok area, a route was created that takes visitors past coastal pine trees, streams, coastal cliffs, and a memorial space for a local figure all at once.

09:00, 10:30, 13:00, 14:30, and 16:00: Booking One of Five Daily Departures

As of August 7, 2026, the official daily departures are 09:00, 10:30, 13:00, 14:30, and 16:00, for a total of five departures. The rail bike ride takes about one hour on average, and the free shuttle bus from the terminal station back to the departure station takes approximately 20–30 minutes. Therefore, even the 16:00 departure will extend into the late afternoon when the return shuttle ride is included.

Online reservations for the following month open at 10:00 on the first day of each month. Telephone reservations are not accepted, and online reservations are available until the day before the ride. On the day itself, unsold online tickets and on-site tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. However, according to the official information, operations allocate 60% of the tickets online and 40% on site, so it is better not to rely solely on on-site purchases during weekends and peak season.

• Regular fares: ₩25,000 per two-person bike; ₩35,000 per four-person bike
• Group qualification: simultaneous use of at least 10 two-person bikes or 8 four-person bikes
• Group fares: ₩23,000 per two-person bike; ₩32,000 per four-person bike
• Group discounts do not apply on weekends or legal public holidays
• Daily purchase limit per person: 12 two-person bikes or 10 four-person bikes

Closed on the Second and Fourth Wednesdays Each Month: Why Tickets Must Be Issued 30 Minutes in Advance

Regular closing days are the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, although they may change depending on operating conditions. In August 2026, closures were announced for the 12th and 26th. The third through fifth departures on the 19th will not operate due to a workers’ general meeting, and additional changes were announced for the 21st due to worker training and the 25th due to industrial safety training. Once your travel date is set, check both the reservation page and the announcements.

Visitors must have their tickets issued at the ticket office of the reserved station no later than 30 minutes before departure. Rail bike inquiries can be made at 033-576-0656~8. Operating hours for inquiries and ticket sales are 09:00–18:00, with a lunch break from 11:00–12:00. Since tickets are not sold at the ticket office during the lunch break, visitors using the 10:30 or 13:00 departure should especially plan to arrive early enough for ticket issuance.

Gongyangwang-gil 2 in Gungchon or Yonghwahaebyeon-gil 23: How Not to Confuse the Departure Station

The address of Gungchon Station is 2 Gongyangwang-gil, Geundeok-myeon, Samcheok, Gangwon State, and the address of Yonghwa Station is 23 Yonghwahaebyeon-gil, Geundeok-myeon, Samcheok, Gangwon State. Either station can be selected as the departure point, and the rail bike operates one way along a double-track line. Since ticket issuance and boarding may not be possible if you go to a station different from the one reserved, check the departure station on your reservation details again before leaving.

At the destination, take the shuttle bus back to the departure-station parking lot at no additional cost. Visitors arriving by car can leave their vehicle at the departure-station parking lot and return by shuttle, so there is no need to arrange a separate vehicle at the terminal station. The official information warns of possible weekend traffic congestion, so allow more time than the travel time shown on the map.

• Gungchon Station: 2 Gongyangwang-gil
• Yonghwa Station: 23 Yonghwahaebyeon-gil
• Rail bike: approximately 1 hour on average
• Free shuttle bus: approximately 20–30 minutes
• Total time required: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes–1 hour 30 minutes

Rain, Wind, Infants, and Dogs: Boarding Rules to Know Before Pedaling

The service generally operates even when it rains, but operations may be suspended for safety reasons in cases of natural disasters such as heavy snow or wind speeds of 20 m/s or higher. In rainy weather, bring your own rainwear. Since wet tracks can be slippery and increase braking distance, maintain a safe distance of approximately 30–50 m from the rail bikes ahead and behind.

Two-person bikes can carry a maximum of two people, and four-person bikes can carry a maximum of four people; infants and young children are included in the capacity limits. Pregnant people and intoxicated persons may not board, and children, older adults, and people with disabilities must ride with a guardian. One dog may board only if placed in a designated carrier, but since the shuttle bus must also be used, it is safest to reconfirm the policy with the operator before bringing a pet.

• Sudden stops, unauthorized disembarkation, and speeding are prohibited during operation
• Photography is prohibited inside tunnels
• At the rest area, follow the stopping time designated by the staff
• Using the storage lockers for belongings before departure is recommended
• Official information does not confirm whether wheelchairs and strollers can board or whether foreign-language assistance is available; advance telephone inquiries are recommended

When Combining Hwang Young-jo Memorial Park and Jangho Port: Planning the Order of Activities After the Rail Bike

The rail bike track passes Hwang Young-jo Memorial Park, and the Yonghwa Station side leads toward the Jangho Tourist Area and the Samcheok Ocean Cable Car zone. The Samcheok Ocean Cable Car operates along an 874 m line connecting Yonghwa-ri and Jangho-ri, taking about 10 minutes or less one way. It is therefore convenient to connect Yonghwa and Jangho after a morning rail bike ride, or to schedule the cable car before or after an afternoon rail bike ride.

However, the rail bike takes up to 1 hour and 30 minutes including the shuttle back to the departure station, and tickets must also be issued 30 minutes before boarding. If you plan to visit the ocean cable car, Jangho Port, and the beach on the same day, it is better to divide meal and travel time around the rail bike departure time. In particular, those using the 13:00 or 14:30 departure should also take the lunch period and the ticket office lunch break from 11:00–12:00 into account.