Haeundae Beach ( Hangul : Han 해운대해수욕장; Hanja : 海雲臺; Revised Romanization of Korean : Hae’undae haesuyokjang) is a beach located in Busan , South Korea , often considered one of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Korea . Haeundae Beach, which is 1.5 km long, is located in the eastern part of Busan in Haeundae District . It is accessible from Haeundae Station on Line 2, and it takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the beach by subway from Busan Station in the historic area of the city, and less than an hour from Gimhae International Airport.
The beach is open year-round, and various festivals are held there throughout the year. A popular beach event, “Polar Bear Club”, during which participants bath in near freezing water, has been held annually since 1988 in January. The beach also features a number of e-sports events designed to promote Blizzard games including StarCraft.
Haeundae is closely associated with cinema, as it partly hosts the Busan International Film Festival, and was featured prominently in the 2009 disaster film Tidal Wave.
Haeundae Beach is often considered, along with Gwangalli Beach, Gyeongpo Beach (Gangneung), and Hyeopjae Beach (Jeju City), one of the best in South Korea. Due to its length, beauty, and easy access from downtown Busan, the beach hosts numerous festivals. Haeundae is also closely associated with cinema, as it partly hosts the Busan International Film Festival , and was featured prominently in the 2009 disaster film Tidal Wave .
The beach is popular with Korean tourists, although it has recently seen an influx of foreign tourists, from China, Japan and Western countries. The beach and its surroundings are especially crowded during the summer months of July and August. Haeundae’s attractions include Dongbaekseom, at the western end of the beach, which is a popular fishing area. Oryukdo, a group of small islets to the east of the beach, is also considered a symbol of Busan. The neighborhood surrounding Haeundae is home to the majority of Busan’s expat population.
There are many beach-related cultural events in Haeundae. Along with Geumjeongsan and Dalmajigogae, Haeundae is one of the most popular places in Busan to watch the New Year sunrise, a popular tradition in Korea. In addition, the “Polar Bear Club”, a popular beach event during which participants bathe in nearly 0°C water , has been held annually since 1988 in January in front of the Chosun Beach Hotel.
Haeundae Beach is located in the eastern part of Busan in the Haeundae -gu area, a 40-minute subway ride from Busan Old Town Station to Haeundae Station and an hour from Gimhae International Airport .
