Discover Jigyung-ri Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, a hidden gem on Korea's East Coast. Perfect for families, this beach boasts pristine waters, easy clam-finding, and pet-friendly sections. Plan your 2026 summer escape!
📍 Jigyung-ri Beach Jigyung-ri, Hyeonnam-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
📍 Gyeongpo Beach San 1-1, Gangmun-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
📍 Jumunjin Beach Jumunbuk-ro 210, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Jigyung-ri Beach is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and pristine waters, making it a fantastic spot for watersports and even welcoming your furry friends. With plenty of budget-friendly accommodations, delicious restaurants, and charming cafes nearby, it's truly an ideal destination for families.
The photos and details you'll see below were captured during my visit to Jigyung-ri Beach last August (2025).
As a dad myself, the primary reason I recommend Jigyung-ri Beach as a top August travel spot is perfectly illustrated in these next three photos.
First up: clams! While you usually expect to dig for clams in mudflats, can you believe where these came from? My kids literally *found* them while swimming at Jigyung Beach! They swore that if you dove down, the seabed was just covered in them. They’d scoop the sand with their hands and find five or six at once, coming back with a cupful after just five minutes in the water. It’s an incredible testament to how clean the ocean floor is!
And speaking of clean water, take a look at the photo above. I simply scooped some seawater into a bottle, and without even trying, tiny shrimp were caught inside! This wasn't a deliberate attempt to catch them; it just happened, which truly highlights the exceptional purity of the water.
While I don't have photos of it, Jigyung-ri Beach is thoughtfully divided into two distinct sections: one area welcomes pets, and the other is reserved exclusively for human visitors.
Naturally, we opted for the human-only section.
In the photos, you might spot some flat resting platforms (known as pyeongsang in Korea) and sunshades scattered across the beach.
These platforms, sunshades, or even tables with sunshades are available for rent. From what I recall, they typically cost around ~$21 to ~$35 for the day.
When you're traveling with children, carrying all your beach gear can be quite a hassle, so renting one of these setups is definitely the way to go. Our family, along with some friends, rented a spot for several hours, and it made our visit incredibly comfortable and enjoyable.
While the ocean hues might not be as vibrant as those you'd find on Jeju Island, the water here is undeniably pristine and exceptionally clean. It's truly fantastic for kids to splash and play in.
So there you have it – my first recommendation for an August getaway: Jigyung-ri Beach in Yangyang, nestled along the beautiful East Coast of Gangwon Province. Its incredibly clean water truly makes it an outstanding choice for families with children. Last year, our family stayed at Alpensia in Pyeongchang and took day trips to Gangneung, Jumunjin, and Yangyang. We're actually planning a similar itinerary for our vacation this summer (2026)!
In my next post, I'll be sharing another fantastic beach just a stone's throw from Jigyung-ri, alongside a must-try restaurant and a charming cafe. These spots perfectly complement Jigyung-ri Beach for an unforgettable day trip. Stay tuned for the next installment and have a wonderful evening!
If we visit Jigyung-ri Beach in August, can children catch clams themselves?
When we visited last August, children picked up clams while swimming at Jigyung-ri Beach. They say that if you dive, there are many clams spread out on the bottom, and if you stir the sand with your hand, you can see 5-6 at a time.
What is the approximate cost to rent a flat bench (pyeongsang) or a sunshade at Jigyung-ri Beach?
At Jigyung-ri Beach, you can rent a flat bench and a sunshade, or a table and a sunshade. From what I recall, the rental cost was around ~$21 to ~$35.
Is Jigyung-ri Beach divided into areas where pets are allowed and areas where they are not?
Yes, Jigyung-ri Beach is divided into two areas. One side is pet-friendly, and the other side is for people only.