A Day Trip to Boryeong: The Best Beach on Korea’s West Coast
Written and photographed by Cami Ismanova.
What can be better than the cooling waters of the Yellow Sea on a hot weekend? So when the mercury starts to rise, a trip to Boryeong is what you might consider a “good call.”
I had heard a lot about the Boryeong Mud Festival, but I did not quite have an idea of what Boryeong looked like. I came to know that Boryeong (also commonly called Daecheon) is a city in South Chungcheong Province. It lies on the coast of the Yellow Sea and is known for its beaches, particularly Daecheon Beach. I was a bit confused, for people would call it “Daecheon” everywhere all the time. What is more, all places, including the beaches and cafés, had the word “Daecheon” (대전) in their titles. So, I did some research and found that what was once Boryeong County has been raised in status to Boryeong City and what was the small city of Daecheon has now become a district within Boryeong City.
As mentioned above, the city hosts the annual Boryeong Mud Festival, which takes place in July. The first mud festival was held in 1998, and it attracted more than 2.2 million tourists by 2007. The festival was originally organized as a marketing vehicle for Boryeong mud cosmetics. The mud, which is used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, is rich in minerals. Some local people believe it has healing qualities, so they participate in different mud-related activities throughout the year. The cheapest way to get from Gwangju to Boryeong is via subway and train, which costs 8,000–23,000 won and takes almost four hours. The fastest way to get to Boryeong is to drive, which costs 21,000–35,000 won and takes about two hours.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that besides the festival, there was a bunch of other exciting activities to enjoy. If you love extreme sports or chilling on the beach, this city is for you! There are activities like zip trekking, sky biking, karting, and a variety of water activities. Daecheon Beach is one of the most famous beaches in South Korea. In fact, it is the biggest beach on the West Coast. It is no wonder it offers so many things to do besides the mud festival. Visitors can rent tubes and float on the water, play beach volleyball, and/or chill in a tent (you can see many people spending their time this way). There are convenient facilities that provide snacks and drinks. It is definitely worth a visit whether you attend its best-known festival or not.
The Daecheon Zip Trek (대전짚트랙) happens to be the first one to descend down onto a beach, unlike many other zip lines in South Korea. It starts from the 52-meter-tall Daecheon Tower that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Yellow Sea. It is a thrilling feeling to slide down at 80 kilometers per hour, screaming your lungs out. Prices are 15,000 won for children and 18,000 won for adults. The Daecheon Zip Trek operates from 9:00–18:00 (9:00–20:00 in July and August). You can find all necessary information on the company’s official website: www.ziptrek.co.kr. For those who are not really up for anything extreme, the Daecheon Tower offers an observation deck with an unbeatable view. It allows you to enjoy a panoramic view of the Daecheon Beach from the top-floor café and terrace. The entrance fee is 5,000 won.
Would you like to enjoy having sea waves below you while cycling? Then why not try another exciting activity – the Daecheon Sky Bike (대전해수욕장 스카이바이크). Visiting the Sky Bike is better during spring and autumn, as the mud flats are less exposed then. When the weather is right, you can feel the cooling breeze while you are cutting through the waves on your sky bike. Travel at your own pace and enjoy the picturesque views of nature. The whole journey takes around 30 minutes and is 2.3 kilometers long. The bike is manually operated, but switches to electric at certain points. You can get to the Daecheon Sky Bike via the Boryeong Intercity Bus Terminal (details below). The Daecheon Sky Bike will leave an unforgettable impression on you and your friends.
When I was about to visit Boryeong, I was skeptical about whether it would be a place my friends and I would like. However, all my doubts faded away once I saw the blue waves of the Yellow Sea and the golden sand of Daecheon Beach. Because the city is full of life and offers high-quality activities to enjoy at your leisure, you will not get bored there for sure. So, organize a road trip with your friends or take a bus there to spend an unforgettable day in Boryeong, for the city will welcome you with open arms!
The Author
Cami Ismanova is a student at Chonnam National University majoring in economics. She writes poems both in English and Russian as one of the ways to express herself. She loves traveling around and reading classics.