Boryeong

Daecheon Beach and the Boryeong Mud Festival, Korea's biggest summer festival, plus an undersea tunnel, the Muchangpo 'mysterious sea road', grilled shellfish and West Sea sunsets.

Boryeong lies on the western coast of South Chungcheong Province in South Korea, facing the Yellow Sea (West Sea), with Hongseong to the north and Seocheon to the south. It comprises the mainland and more than 70 islands, including Wonsando, Sapsido and Oeyeondo, and its center is Daecheon-dong. Boryeong is famous for Daecheon Beach and the Boryeong Mud Festival, held each year in mid-to-late July, and is a popular weekend seaside escape on the west coast for Seoulites. Sightseeing falls into three areas: Daecheon Beach and Daecheon Port (swimming, mud activities, zipline, grilled shellfish, fish market); the coastline to the north and south (the Muchangpo Mysterious Sea Road and Jukdo Sanghwawon to the south; Chungcheong Suyeong Fortress, Ocheon Port, Cheonbuk Oyster Village and the silver grass of Oseosan to the north); and inland Seongju-myeon to the east (Seongjusa Temple Site, Seongjusan Recreational Forest, Gaehwa Art Park and the Coal Museum). Since the Boryeong Undersea Tunnel opened in 2021, you can drive from Daecheon Port via Wonsando straight to Anmyeondo in Taean. The best time is Jul–Aug for swimming and the Mud Festival; autumn brings sunsets, big prawns and blue crabs, winter is for grilled Cheonbuk oysters, and spring is webfoot octopus season. Getting there: ITX or Mugunghwa trains on the Janghang Line from Seoul's Yongsan Station reach Daecheon Station in about 2–2.5 hours, or take a bus from Seoul Nambu Terminal (about 2.5 hours). Sights are spread out, so driving or taxis are recommended; allow 1–2 days, plus an extra day for the outer islands depending on ferry schedules. Accommodation is tight during the Mud Festival, so book well ahead; if you go foraging on the tidal flats, keep an eye on tide times.

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