Gwangalli Beach: 4.54 Million Visitors in 2024, 54% of 2019

Gwangalli Beach in Busan drew 4.54 million visitors in 2024, 54% of the 2019 level. Here are public car park fees, water test results, the nearest ERs and pharmacies, and how many licensed lodgings sit within 3 km of the sand.

Gwangalli is a city beach in Suyeong District, Busan. The sand is 1400 m long and 68 m wide. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, Gwangan Bridge stretches across the view beyond the water, so you get an open sea view by day and a lit-up skyline at night. In summer you can swim, surf or try paddleboarding, and the beach hosts concerts, festivals and drone shows. Cafes and restaurants line the shore, and public transport makes it easy to reach from the city centre.

Visitor numbers are at 54% of 2019

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries figures show 13.11 million visitors in 2015, the highest year in the 2015 to 2024 data. The count was 8.45 million in 2019, then fell to 2.76 million in 2020 and 1.23 million in 2021. It recovered to 4.21 million in 2022 and 4.32 million in 2023, and reached 4.54 million in 2024. That is 54% of the 2019 level. The beach is calmer than before the pandemic, but it is still a busy one.

Visitors per year. Gold bars: 2020–2021.

Parking: the nearest public car parks all charge a fee

Korea's national parking registry lists these five public car parks closest to the beach. No free car park is registered within 2 km. Fees and hours come from the registry and may differ on site.

Car park (Korean name)	From the beach	Spaces	Fee	Hours
Gwangalli Beach public car park (광안리해수욕장 공영주차장)	150 m	54	500 won per 10 min	00:00 to 23:59
Millak Beach Park public car park (민락해변공원 공영주차장)	670 m	26	300 won per 10 min	09:00 to 01:00
Millak public car park (민락 공영주차장)	930 m	314	300 won per 10 min	00:00 to 23:59
Hoamgol public car park (호암골 공영주차장)	1.28 km	53	100 won per 10 min	00:00 to 23:59
Millak Waterside Park public car park (민락수변공원 공영주차장)	1.39 km	43	300 won per 10 min	11:00 to 23:59

The closest car park has few spaces. If it is full, the Millak public car park has 314.

Is the water clean?

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested the seawater at Gwangalli 12 times in 2025, and all 12 results were rated suitable. Three toilets are registered near the beach.

If you need a doctor

The nearest emergency rooms are Joeun Gangan Hospital (좋은강안병원), a regional emergency medical institution 0.7 km away, and BHS Hanseo Hospital (비에이치에스한서병원), a regional emergency medical centre 1.1 km away. The closest pharmacies are Bada Pharmacy (바다약국) at 0.2 km, Sejong Pharmacy (세종약국) at 0.3 km and Cheongchun Pharmacy (청춘약국) at 0.5 km. All three are registered as open 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 Gwangalli Station (광안리파출소), 1.2 km away.

Where to stay

There are 271 licensed lodgings within 3 km of the beach. Residence-style rooms are the largest group at 174, followed by 42 motels and inns, 37 hotels, 16 other lodgings and 2 condo or resort properties. Pensions and rural homestays are registered under a different system, so they are not counted here. If you want to camp, Yeongdo Marino Auto Camping Ground (영도 마리노 오토캠핑장), a general campsite, is 7.5 km away.

Distances are straight-line. Opening hours and fees can change, so check again before you travel. Emergency 119 · Coast Guard 122