Although overall visitors to Gangwon’s east coast rose slightly this July, beachgoers dropped by over 1.6 million (18.8%) compared with last year. Bad weather — including extreme heat and dangerous swell waves — led to temporary swim bans at some beaches, and many travelers shifted from traditional beach outings to hotels, valleys, waterparks, surfing spots and cafés. Local differences matter: Yangyang saw a 33.6% increase in beach visitors thanks to large accommodations, surfing and café scenes around Naksam (Naksan), while remote Goseong suffered a 61.3% fall in beachgoers despite a small overall rise in visitors, reflecting weaker transport links and limited tourism infrastructure. Experts say shorter, day-trip or 1-night stays and more local leisure options (like waterparks and hotel pools) are changing the “summer vacation = beach” formula in Korea.
