Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

Anyone here have any experience swimming either on the west coast or on the south coast?

I'm curious as to how clean the water is in either area. I realise there's still residual oil half way up the west coast, but apart from that, what's it like?

Or in other words, which place is better for swimming: Mokpo or Yeosu?

[aldershot]

gujora, geoje-do.

http://www.encyber.com/comm/board/bl_view.php?tid=travelkorea&idxNo=7376&order=10

[sojourner1]

Busan's beach has nasty water. It sure turned cool on us so soon as it's not Summer anymore. You'd probably be best to wait until next June to swim as I was just freezing my tail off early this morning in the land of the morning chillyness.

[Zutronius]

Mokpo and swimming? Mokpo does have a small beach, but it's more for campfires than swimming. Oedaldo off the coast of Mokpo has pretty good swimming.

[Loza]

my boyfriend and i have gone to Daechon beach (Boryeong city) for the last 2 weekends. the sand is golden, the water sparkling and fairly warm still. we stayed at a great hotel(with shred kitchen facilities) on the beach where we could cook our own BBQ overlooking the beach-SWEET!

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

[QbertP]

I agree with loza. Boryeong was great last time I went there. Check out the fest if you can and crash in a jimjillbang. I don't know the current water conditions but i'm sure there is some internet weather source for them.

[Toon Army]

heard they`ve got Sharks on the west coast.....not that you`re likely to ever encounter one

[chris_J2]

http://www.seoulpost.co.kr/paper/data/news/images/2007/12/1_L_1198653404.jpg

Chujado ^ could be worth looking at. My boat to Jejudo stopped there briefly. They have motels. The boat goes twice daily from Mokpo at 9am & 2 pm or thereabouts.

Here's a shot I took in Chujado Harbour, with a link at the bottom, to pics on the island by Korean photographers:

http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=894768

[Smee]

The beaches in Yeosu are pretty shitty. Mosageum is all right, I guess, but nothing special. It's about a 6,000 won cab ride from the bus terminal. The "black sand" beach---Manseongni---sucks. If you go to Yeosu there are lots of motels in Hak-dong, the area around Yeosu City Hall. Some restaurants and bars there, too. There's also the "Yeosu Expo Tourist Hotel" about a 15 minute walk away from the bus terminal. It's on the same street as Wa Bar, Yellow Monkey, and some other places, which is why it's a popular motel with foreigners.

I'd rather check out Mokpo's Oedaldo, mostly b/c I haven't been there and b/c Yeosu's beaches weren't that impressive. If you're looking for a real beach, why not give Gamani in Yeonggwang county a try? It's considered by some the best beach in Jeollanam-do, and is an hour-and-a-half from Mokpo (closer to Gwangju).

No idea if it's still "open," though, so maybe somebody else could chime in.

[Smee]

isn't there a big to-do about jellyfish nowadays, though? I thought I heard something about that. I've seen them all over the waters in previous autumns.

[Zutronius]

There's also Wando as well. But it's pretty busy.

[Smee]

Wando's all right, but it's kind of remote isn't it?

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

Thanks Smee and all.

(I was wondering when you would turn up Smee.)

Anyone know about water quality and safety in these areas, either annecdotely or scientifically?