Songjeong Beach: 52,643 Visitors in 2024 and Five Free Car Parks

Songjeong Beach sits on the coast of Gangneung in Gangwon Province. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the sand stretches 1.2 km and is 30 to 60 m wide, which makes it a fairly large beach. The sand is soft, the slope is gentle and the water is shallow, so the beach is described as a good choice for families with children. At the entrance, Jukdo Island has a pine grove and a rest area, and raw-fish restaurants line the shore.

Visitor numbers keep climbing

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries figures show 7,808 visitors in 2015 and 7,620 in 2018. The count was 10,458 in 2019, then more than doubled to 24,626 in 2020. It continued upward with 27,355 in 2021, 27,323 in 2022 and 39,730 in 2023. In 2024 it reached 52,643, the highest figure between 2015 and 2024. That is 503% of the 2019 level. The beach is still modest in size compared with the big names on the coast, but it is clearly getting busier every year.

Parking: five free public car parks within 720 m

Korea's national parking registry lists five car parks near the beach. All five are recorded as free and open from 00:00 to 23:59. The closest, Songjeong Beach public car park, is 100 m away and has 86 spaces.

This is registered data and may differ on the ground. Follow the signs on site in peak season.

Is the water clean?

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested the seawater at Songjeong 9 times in 2025, and all 9 results were rated suitable. Six toilets are registered near the beach.

If you need a doctor

The nearest emergency rooms are Gangneung Dongin Hospital (강릉동인병원), a regional emergency medical centre 3.0 km away, and Gangneung Medical Center (강릉의료원), a regional emergency medical institution 5.6 km away. Yerang Pharmacy (예랑약국, 0.8 km) and Neulpureun Pharmacy (늘푸른약국, 1.8 km) are listed as open on Sundays. Chodang Solhyang Pharmacy (초당솔향약국, 2.3 km) is listed as closed on Sundays. Call 119 in an emergency, or 122 for the Korea Coast Guard if something happens at sea. The nearest coast guard station is Gangneung Station (강릉파출소), 1.9 km away.

Where to stay

There are 56 licensed accommodations within 3 km of the beach: 25 residence-style, 15 motels and inns, 10 other types and 6 hotels. Pensions and farm-stay minbak are registered under a different system, so they are not counted here. For camping, the closest site is Gyeongpodae Caravan (경포대카라반), an auto-camping ground 3.2 km away. Next are Seojeong Caravan Pension (서정카라반펜션), a general campsite at 8.5 km, Base Camp (베이스캠프), a glamping site at 8.6 km, and Gangneung Baeneam Camping (강릉 바다내음 캠핑장), an auto-camping ground at 8.7 km.