Haeundae Beach, Busan: The 2022 Haeundae Sand Festival

March 18, 2023 264 Views

Haeundae Beach in Busan is renowned as one of Busan’s leading beaches, alongside Gwangalli Beach. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Busan.

Especially during the summer vacation season, it attracts numerous visitors. You can witness the bustling crowds from all over the country gathering around Haeundae. Even when I visited in late May, the beach was already bustling with people, resembling a summer day.

“Haeundae Beach, Busan”

Haeundae Beach in Busan has been a famous scenic spot for a long time. It is said that the scholar Choe Chiwon of the Unified Silla Dynasty was so impressed by the combination of pine trees and white sandy beach that he named this place “Haeundae,”. bringing the name from his poem “Haeun.”

During the Joseon Dynasty, Haeundae was also considered one of the Eight Scenic Views of Joseon. It was a popular resort during the Japanese colonial period as well. In the 80s and 90s, it remained a popular tourist destination, and even now, it is still a prominent spot during the summer vacation season.

I have personally visited Haeundae Beach several times, once in 2012 and another time in 2014 when I was traveling in Busan.

“Haeundae Beach Revisited in 2022”

Upon revisiting Haeundae Beach in 2022, not much has changed from the past. It is still a crowded place and boasts a beautiful view.

However, I did notice some slight differences from the past. Mysterious stone statues were visible on Haeundae Beach, and while I can’t recall if they were there before, it seems likely that they were newly installed.

Furthermore, it seemed like Haeundae and its surroundings have transformed into more of a tourist destination compared to before. Especially, the ability to board the Sky Capsule or the Seaside Train not far from Haeundae Beach at the Mipo Station seems to have slightly altered the scenery.

“2022: Haeundae Sand Festival”

During this visit to Haeundae, I was fortunate enough to coincide with the “2022 Haeundae Sand Festival.”. Although it wasn’t planned, it added an extra attraction to my Busan trip. The 2022 Haeundae Sand Festival took place from May 13 to June 6.

The theme was “Overseas Travel,” aimed at alleviating the regret of not being able to travel abroad due to the spread of COVID-19 through the medium of sand art. Thanks to this, I was able to see various artworks that stimulated memories of overseas travel while observing landmarks from around the world at Haeundae.

“Haeundae Beach, Busan”