Korean Job Discussion Forums

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

wow! we went to samcheok this weekend and it was BEAUTIFUL! i can't beleive i've never gone there before. i'm totally going to spend this summer in the country instead of being in seoul!

pollyplummer · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Location: McMinnvillve, Oregon

Where exactly did you go? How did you get there? Are there places to stay right on the beach? Is it expensive? Is it crowded? Can you go swimming there? Sorry! I have so many questions. I'm looking for a nice beach to go to when one of my friends comes over from the states in July. Can you give me some more info? Cool

Maugrim · Joined: 10 Nov 2003

Getting a Korean license is candy and it's not expensive to rent a car. The beaches can get crowded, but not at this time of year. Never been swimming in this ocean(I hate cold water), but as I understand it they've got psychotic lifeguards here. Apparently most Koreans don't swim so well. Rooms are plentiful off season. In July, I'd find a way to maken reservations.

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

yeah, we rented a car (very cheap, but watch out for gas). if you don't want to drive you can take the bus or maybe even the train (??). our friend said that in july reservations is a good idea.

we went to samcheok. there's lots to do there as well including exploring caves and going to the *beep* museum (no kidding). we're going to go back for sure!

there are hotels right on the water as well, i don't know how much they are though. we stayed in samcheok and our double room was 40,000 won.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Samcheok is nice but Donghae is better and Kangneung is even better than Donghae.

You can get an express bus from Seoul to Kangneung and it takes about 3 hours. It is cheap and fast.

Alternatively

You can take the train ....it takes about 8 hours and passes through some great mountain scenery. That being said how much mountain scenery can you take?

Hotels are plentiful and cheap.

The water is numbingly cold.......few people go swimmiing until July and August as it warms up a little at that time. The surf can be a bit rough but is quite fun.

Lifeguards are insane. If you go more than 30 feet from shore they start blowing their whistels and telling you to come back. Probably because they cant swim worth crap.

Last year I was at Donghae and went for a swim, straight out from the beach about 400 meters. The lifeguards called the military and I had a patrol boat with a bunch of soldiers on it escort me back to shore. They wanted me to climb in the boat but I just turned around and swam back to shore. When I climbed out of the water some Koreans applauded me....why I dont really know.

I highly recommend either Donghae or Kangnueng for beaches and things to do...sightseeing shopping etc.

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

that's hilarious. why bother having a beach then?

lao_ocean_girl · Joined: 27 Jan 2004

I second what Grotto said...

Gangneung is beautiful and a great place to be in the summer. Maybe I'm biased because I spent 3 years there, but that's exactly the reason why I didn't want to move to Seoul.

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

Gangneung is a really nice town.

I wonder if the reason they don't like you swimming out so far is to do with North Korea? I mean part of the beach looks like this

and you did say it was a military boat that got you

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Saturday morning.. I might take a bus over to the coast.. Gangneung, Samcheok, etc.. and maybe the next day or so try to visit Danyang or Daebaek before coming back to Seoul.

We'll see.

Which beach shouldn't I miss over there?

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

All the beaches are great but I have a soft spot for Candlestick beach in Donghae.

Horseshoe shape, nice sand, sheltered cove and a great selection or rocks to climb around on.

skookum · Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Not to be perverse, but I'll put in a word for the West Coast - recently went to Dajeong (sp?) and got a ferry to Anmyeon-do. The latter island is ringed by beaches, not all that many people around this time of the year. Even the popular Mallipo beach west of Taean had only a few people on it. Lots of pine forests, rock cliffs, beautiful terrain - alas I only had a brief time to appreciate a large swath of territory.

Reflections · Joined: 04 Jan 2005

Yeah right its beautiful - compared to what, Seouls Han Gang?

Sorry, but call me spoilt (coming from Australia and having been to some truely great beaches in varuious countries) but the beach isn't that great. It doesnt have any special qualities and the last time I tried to do some swimming that actually involved distance, I was stopped by a military guy.

In summer it was good only to watch the other species frolicking in the centimetre high surf.

Give me a Mexican beach with a margherita, a Costa Rican beach with a Costa Rican girl, a Thai beach with a spliff....