Haeundae Beach: 9.12 million visitors in 2024, 81% of 2019
A data-based guide to Haeundae Beach in Busan: visitor numbers from 2015 to 2024, paid car parks nearby, all 12 water tests rated suitable in 2025, emergency rooms, pharmacies and 283 licensed lodgings within 3 km.
Data as of 2026-10-21
Haeundae Beach in Busan's Haeundae District is the city's best-known beach. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, it has a wide stretch of sand and an attractive coastline, with shallow water and gentle waves that make it well suited to swimming. Tall buildings and upscale hotels line the shore, so it stays busy in every season, and many foreign travellers visit. Events include a full-moon festival at the start of the lunar year, a winter polar bear swim, sand sculpture shows and the Busan Sea Festival.
How many people come: 9.12 million in 2024
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries figures put Haeundae at 16.09 million visitors in 2015, the highest count between 2015 and 2024. The total fell to 14.50 million in 2016, 13.71 million in 2017, 11.26 million in 2018 and 11.20 million in 2019. It dropped to 6.89 million in 2020 and 5.04 million in 2021, then recovered to 8.81 million in 2022, 8.22 million in 2023 and 9.12 million in 2024. That is 81% of the 2019 level. The beach can still be very crowded in peak summer, so go early if you want more room.
Parking: the closest car parks are all paid
These are the five car parks closest to the beach in Korea's national parking registry. All five are recorded as open from 10:00 to 22:00. The registry lists no free car park within 2 km of the beach.
| Car park (Korean name) | From the beach | Spaces | Fee (as registered) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangjang car park (광장주차장) | 160 m | 57 | 2,000 won per 30 min, then 1,000 won per 10 min |
| Heungan Industry (흥안인더스트리) | 190 m | 9 | 4,000 won per 60 min, then 2,000 won per 30 min |
| Haewoo car park (해우주차장) | 260 m | 24 | 2,000 won per 30 min |
| Ilpum Hanwoo car park (일품한우주차장) | 260 m | 20 | Paid |
| Gaemi car park (개미주차장) | 270 m | 19 | 1,500 won per 30 min, then 1,500 won per 30 min |
These are registered details and may differ on site. Follow the signs during peak season.
Is the water clean?
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested the seawater at Haeundae 12 times during the 2025 swimming season, and all 12 results were rated suitable. Ten toilets are registered near the beach.
If you need a doctor
The nearest emergency room is Haeundae Bumin Hospital (해운대부민병원), a regional emergency medical institution 0.6 km away. Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital (인제대학교 해운대백병원), a regional emergency medical centre, is 2.5 km away. The closest pharmacies are Marine Pharmacy (마린약국) at 0.2 km, Haeundae Verinu Pharmacy (해운대베리뉴약국) at 0.3 km and Big Shine Pharmacy (빅샤인약국) at 0.3 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), 2.9 km away.
Where to stay
There are 283 licensed lodgings within 3 km of the beach. Residence-style units are the largest group at 146, followed by 82 hotels, 34 other lodgings, 19 motels and inns, and 2 condos or resorts. Guesthouses and farm-stay homes are registered under a different system, so they are not in these numbers. If you want to camp, Yeongdo Marino Auto Camping (영도 마리노 오토캠핑장) is 11.1 km away and Geo Club (지오클럽) is 12.9 km away, so neither is close.
Distances are straight-line. Opening hours and fees can change, so check again before you travel. Emergency 119 · Coast Guard 122
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety, national parking registry (records dated 2026-03-11 to 2026-10-01)
- National Medical Center, emergency departments (retrieved 2026-10-11)
- National Medical Center, pharmacies (retrieved 2026-10-11)
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety, lodging licences (retrieved 2026-10-11)
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, beach visitor statistics (2015 to 2024, retrieved 2026-10-11)
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety, public toilets (retrieved 2026-10-10)
- Korea Tourism Organization GoCamping (campsites) (retrieved 2026-10-10)
- Korea Coast Guard station locations (retrieved 2026-10-11)
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, beach water quality tests (2025 season tests, retrieved 2026-10-10)
- Korea Tourism Organization English tourism data (names, addresses) (retrieved 2026-10-10)