Skip to content
StaysIN KOREA

Compare areas

Jukdo and Ingu or Naksan?

These are Yangyang's two bases, and they suit different trips. Jukdo and Ingu are the surf towns, with shallow beginner beaches and the Surfing Beach Road between them; Naksan is the temple coast, with Naksansa, the Uisangdae sunrise and buses about every 10 minutes. Here is how to choose.

The verdict

Coming to surf? Choose Jukdo and Ingu: the county calls Jukdo's shallow water good for nervous beginners, VisitKorea says Ingu's shallow water attracts many novices, most surf shops run beginner programmes, and the evenings happen on Yangridan-gil. For a first visit, the sunrise, a templestay or a trip without a car, choose Naksan: Naksansa, Uisangdae and Hongnyeonam sit beside Naksan Beach, six city bus routes run from the terminal about every 10 minutes, and the airport is about 10 minutes away by taxi. Two nights? Take one of each.

Side by side

Jukdo & Ingu and Naksan, side by side
Jukdo & InguNaksan
Getting thereBus from Seoul to the Yangyang terminal (about 2 h 10 min from Dong Seoul, 2 h 38 min from Seoul Express, county), then city bus 12 or a Gangneung-bound intercity bus to Ingu 1-ri.The same buses from Seoul, then city buses 8, 9, 81, 9-1, 94 or 95 to Naksan; about 10 minutes by taxi from Yangyang Airport (VisitKorea).
Local busesCity bus 12 four times a day (07:00, 11:20, 14:20, 18:10) plus seven to nine Gangneung-bound intercity buses (county, undated).Six city bus routes about every 10 minutes, 07:23–21:03, plus Sokcho-bound intercity buses (county, undated).
Best forLearning to surf, autumn-to-spring and winter surf trips, surf-town evenings.First visits, sunrise, templestays, travelling by bus, arriving by air.
The beachJukdo's 2 km of sand and Ingu's wide, shallow beach either side of Jukdo hill; beach hours at Ingu 09:00–18:00 in July and August.Naksan Beach, one of the most famous in Yangyang in VisitKorea's words, with pines and a forested shore trail; swimming season 11 July–24 August in 2025.
SurfingThe county's Jukdo surf spot: good waves in all four seasons, famous for winter surfing, shallow water for beginners.The county's six surf spots run from Mulchi and Seorak south to Wonpo and do not include Naksan Beach; head to Jukdo and Ingu for lessons.
EveningsYangridan-gil, where Korea.net (2022) found cafés turning into bars after 10 p.m. and beach parties until about 2 a.m.Cafés and convenience stores by the beach (county), and an early night for the dawn at Uisangdae.
Sightseeing within reachJukdo-jeong pavilion, Hyuhyuam (about 900 m from Ingu Beach), Hajodae's pavilion, trail and lighthouse, Namae Port.Naksansa, Uisangdae, Hongnyeonam, Yangyang-eup's five-day market, the Namdaecheon salmon river, the Osan-ri Prehistory Museum.
Festivals and seasonsSurf season from autumn to spring (Korea.net, 2022); separate swimming and surfing zones in summer (county).A New Year sunrise festival at Naksan Beach (VisitKorea Korean); the Moonlight Bonfire Festival ran from 28 February to 1 March 2026.
FeelA surf town: boards, beginner lessons, cafés and late bars.A temple coast: sea-cliff pavilions, pines and a long sandy beach.

Choose Jukdo & Ingu if

  • You are coming to Yangyang to surf
  • You are a beginner who wants shallow water
  • You want waves in autumn, winter or spring
  • You want surf-town evenings on Yangridan-gil

Choose Naksan if

  • You want the sunrise at Uisangdae and Hongnyeonam
  • You are booking a templestay at Naksansa
  • You are travelling by bus
  • You are flying in or out of Yangyang Airport

Questions visitors ask

Is Jukdo and Ingu or Naksan better without a car?

Naksan. On the county's undated timetable, city buses 8, 9, 81, 9-1, 94 and 95 run from the Yangyang terminal to Naksan about every 10 minutes, 07:23–21:03. The Ingu 1-ri stop has city bus 12 four times a day, at 07:00, 11:20, 14:20 and 18:10, plus seven to nine Gangneung-bound intercity buses.

Can I surf if I stay at Naksan?

The six surf spots on the county's surf page do not include Naksan Beach, so beginners should stay at Jukdo and Ingu, where the county says the shallow water suits beginners and the waves come in all four seasons. From Naksan, a lesson day means a trip to those beaches by car or taxi, or by bus via the Yangyang terminal.

Which is better for the sunrise?

Naksan. VisitKorea calls Uisangdae a famous sunrise viewing spot, its Korean guide counts the dawn from Uisangdae and Hongnyeonam among the finest on the East Sea coast, and its Korean pages say Naksan Beach holds a New Year sunrise festival. The county lists Naksansa open from 04:00 in summer and 05:30 in winter; VisitKorea lists 06:00.

Read both in full.

Jukdo & Ingu guideNaksan guide

Sources & review

Editorial review: · Korea Standard Time