Daecheon Beach: 5.64 million visitors in 2024, five free car parks within 750 m

Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungnam, is the biggest beach on Korea's west coast. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, it has been a resort area for foreign visitors since the 1930s. The sand is 3.5 km long and 100 m wide, with a gentle slope and clean sand. The beach is split into a Sunset Plaza zone and a Mud Plaza zone. It is also known for the annual Boryeong Mud Festival, and the Boryeong Mud Experience Center at the end of the beach offers mud saunas and self-service mud packs.

5.64 million visitors in 2024, 85% of 2019

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries figures show 13.51 million visitors in 2017, the highest of the years from 2015 to 2024. The count fell to 9.49 million in 2018 and 6.63 million in 2019, then to 2.95 million in 2020 and 2.81 million in 2021. It recovered to 4.84 million in 2022 and 5.74 million in 2023, and stood at 5.64 million in 2024. That is 85% of the 2019 level. It is still one of the busiest beaches on the west coast, so plan for crowds on summer weekends.

Parking: five free car parks within 750 m

Korea's national parking registry lists five car parks within 750 metres of the beach. All five are recorded as free and open from 00:00 to 23:59. The closest, car park No. 5, is 320 m away.

These are registry records. Operations in peak season may differ, so follow the signs on site.

Is the water clean?

The seawater at Daecheon was tested 10 times in 2025, and all 10 results were rated suitable for swimming. Ten toilets are registered near the beach.

If you need a doctor

The nearest emergency room is Boryeong Asan Hospital (보령아산병원), a regional emergency medical centre 12.6 km away. The next is Seohae Hospital (서해병원), a regional emergency medical institution 29.6 km away. Daecheon Nuri Pharmacy (대천온누리약국) is 0.2 km from the beach and Haebyeon Pharmacy (해변약국) is 0.5 km away. On Sundays Nuri Pharmacy is closed, while Haebyeon Pharmacy is open. Uri Pharmacy (우리약국), 8.1 km away, is also closed on Sundays. In an emergency call 119, or 122 for the Korea Coast Guard if something happens at sea. The nearest coast guard station is Daecheon Station (대천파출소), 1.9 km away.

Where to stay

There are 233 licensed lodgings within 3 km of the beach. Residence-style units are the largest group at 157, followed by 53 motels and inns, 19 hotels and 4 other lodgings. Pensions and farm-stay minbak are registered under a different system and are not in these numbers. If you plan to camp, Daecheon Beach Campground (대천해수욕장 야영장), a standard campsite, is 0.9 km from the beach. Further out are Yongdu Beach Forest Campground (용두해수욕장 숲속야영장) at 6.2 km and Muchangpo Auto Camping (무창포오토캠핑장) at 8.0 km.