Dongsan Beach: free parking 40 m away, visitors at 110% of 2019

Dongsan Beach sits in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, between Bukbun-ri Beach and Dongsanpo Port Beach. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, its moderate water depth and tall waves have earned it the nickname "Korea's number one surf spot". The beach opens for swimming every year in July and August, and it has showers, toilets, drinking-water points and a campground. Looking out over open sea, you can see Jukdo Island, which is part of the appeal.

How busy is it? Slightly busier than in 2019

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries figures show 7236 visitors in 2015 and 9180 in 2016. Within the 2015 to 2024 record, 2016 was the busiest year and 2020 the quietest, at 1873. The count dropped to 2190 in 2017 and 2010 in 2018, then recovered to 4546 in 2019, 6909 in 2022 and 6518 in 2023. In 2024 it stood at 5019, which is 110% of the 2019 level. These are official counts, so the crowds you feel on the sand may differ.

Parking: five free car parks within 440 m

The parking registry lists five car parks within 440 metres of the beach. All five are recorded as free and open around the clock (00:00 to 23:59). The nearest is the roadside car park, just 40 m away.

This is registered information and may differ on the ground. In the July and August peak, follow the signs on site.

Water quality and facilities

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested the seawater 12 times in 2025, and all 12 results were rated suitable. Three toilets are registered near the beach. Guesthouses, restaurants, cafes and raw-fish eateries cluster around the beach, so food and a place to rest are easy to find.

If you need a doctor

The nearest emergency rooms are Gangneung Asan Hospital (regional emergency medical centre, 19.7 km) and Gangneung Dongin Hospital (local emergency medical centre, 26.0 km). Both are a long way from the sand, so in an emergency call 119 straight away. Three pharmacies are registered 11.0 km away: Jayeon Pharmacy (자연약국), Haetsal Pharmacy (햇살약국) and Segyero Pharmacy (세계로약국). All three are recorded as closed on Sundays. For an accident at sea, call the Korea Coast Guard on 122. The nearest coast guard station is Jumunjin Station (주문진파출소), 11.2 km away.

Where to stay

There are 48 licensed lodgings within 3 km of the beach. Residence-style stays are the largest group at 33, followed by 8 other lodgings, 5 motels and inns, 1 hotel and 1 condo or resort. Pensions and farm-stay minbak are registered under a different system, so they are not included in these numbers. For camping, Dongsanpo Campground (동산포 캠핑장), a basic tent site, is 0.1 km away. Bukbun Solbat Campground (북분솔밭캠핑장), an auto-camping site, is 1.3 km away. The tourism organization also lists Jukdo Auto Camping Site, Jukdo Beach and Jukdojeong Pavilion as nearby places to visit.