Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach is a sand beach in Haeundae District, Busan, stretching along a bay with views of high-rise buildings and the open sea. The sand is pale and fine, and gentle waves roll onto the shore, while a wide boardwalk behind the beach is lined with palm trees, benches, and public showers.

The shore shifted from a fishing settlement to a bathing resort in the late 1800s, when wealthy families from Busan began building summer houses here. During the Korean War, a military station occupied this location, later dismantled to make room for hotels and leisure facilities.

The area takes its name from a famous Joseon Dynasty scholar who often walked here. Many visitors come early in the morning to jog or do exercises along the water, while others stroll the boardwalk in the evening and eat Korean seafood at the restaurants lining the shore.

The shore is divided into numbered zones, which help with orientation during crowded summer months. Lifeguards patrol from June through August, and toilets and changing rooms are located at regular intervals along the boardwalk.

In 2008, the shore set a Guinness World Record for the highest number of beach umbrellas opened at the same time, totaling 7937. This event drew international attention and became a local curiosity that still intrigues visitors today.