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Jeju beaches open June 24 to Sept 6 — longest season ever, with night swimming hours at four beaches

Reported 2026-05-29 / Posted 2026-05-29 · Compiled from Korea Herald, Visit Jeju official tourism portal, and Jeju Provincial Government · By

Jeju Island is opening all 12 of its public beaches on June 24, 2026 and keeping them in official operation through September 6 — 75 days total, the longest beach season in the island's history. That is six more days than last year, and the timing covers the entire Korean summer peak (mid-July to mid-August) plus a generous shoulder window on either side.

Clear turquoise sea and gentle waves at Gwakji Beach on Jeju Island
The turquoise water of Gwakji Beach on Jeju Island.Photo: Gwakji Beach, Jeju by Jeong seolah · CC0

For first-time foreign visitors planning a Jeju leg, three things matter: which beach to pick for your style, the new evening hours at four beaches, and the safety upgrades that make this the most managed Jeju summer yet.

The window and the hours

  • Season: June 24, 2026 (Wed) → September 6, 2026 (Sun) — 75 days
  • Standard operating hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (lifeguard on duty)
  • Peak window: July 15 – August 15 — most crowded period
  • Evening extension at four beaches during the peak window:
    • Samyang Black Sand Beach: until 8 PM
    • Woljeong Beach: until 8 PM
    • Iho Tewoo Beach: until 9 PM
    • Hyeopjae Beach: until 9 PM
  • Estimated visitors: ~1.6 million across the season (up ~10% from 2025)
  • Lifeguards: 315 personnel deployed — up 27 from last year (12 firefighters, 12 administrative, 12 safety managers, 279 civilian lifeguards)

The 12 beaches — what each one is best for

Jeju's beaches stretch around the entire island, each with its own character. Quick guide:

  • Hyeopjae (협재) — West coast. Famous turquoise water, white sand. Family-friendly, shallow shelf. 9 PM evening hours.
  • Geumneung (금능) — West coast, right next to Hyeopjae. Often less crowded than its famous neighbor. Same water, less photo traffic.
  • Gwakji (곽지) — West coast. Spring-water foot wash beach, family-friendly, fewer foreign tourists.
  • Iho Tewoo (이호테우) — North coast (close to Jeju City). The "red and white horse lighthouse" beach — instantly recognizable from K-drama frames. 9 PM evening hours. Easiest beach to reach by bus from Jeju City.
  • Samyang Black Sand (삼양검은모래) — North coast. Unique dark sand from volcanic minerals, said to help joint health. 8 PM evening hours. Less photo-famous but distinct.
  • Woljeong (월정) — North-east coast. Café row right on the beach — Instagram-heavy. 8 PM evening hours.
  • Hamdeok (함덕) — North-east coast. Turquoise water, large family-friendly shallow area, food trucks. Highly recommended for first-timers.
  • Gimnyeong (김녕) — North-east coast. Quieter than Hamdeok with similar water color. Good for couples.
  • Jungmun Saekdal (중문색달) — South coast. Resort-area beach, slightly bigger waves (lightweight surfing). Connected to luxury hotels.
  • Gwasun Geummorae (과선금모래) — South coast. Lesser-known. Gold-tone sand.
  • Pyoseon (표선) — South-east coast. Enormous shallow tidal flat — tide-dependent. Family-friendly when the water is in.
  • Sinyang Seopji (신양섭지) — East coast, near Seopjikoji and Udo ferry terminal. Calm bay water. Good combo with day-trip to Udo.

Pick by what you're doing

  • First-time Jeju, with family: Hamdeok or Hyeopjae. Both have shallow turquoise water, food/cafés, and clear English signage.
  • You want the Instagram shot: Woljeong (café row), Hyeopjae (turquoise + sunset), Iho Tewoo (red/white lighthouse).
  • You want fewer crowds: Geumneung (Hyeopjae's twin), Gimnyeong, Sinyang Seopji.
  • You want night swim: Iho Tewoo or Hyeopjae (until 9 PM), or Samyang/Woljeong (until 8 PM). All four during July 15 – August 15 only.
  • You want surfing: Jungmun Saekdal — Jeju's main surf spot, with rental shops along the road.
  • You're touring east Jeju (Seongsan, Udo): Sinyang Seopji or Pyoseon are nearby.

How to get to each beach

  • From Jeju International Airport (CJU): Iho Tewoo and Samyang Black Sand are closest (~20 min by taxi or bus 311/312). North coast beaches (Hamdeok, Gimnyeong, Woljeong) 30–50 min east.
  • From Seogwipo (south coast): Jungmun Saekdal 15 min by taxi. Closest beach to the southern resort cluster.
  • Bus options: Jeju's 600-series city buses and 200-series intercity buses cover most beach areas. Cash, T-money, or Climate Card all work. See our Climate Card guide.
  • Rental car: The most flexible option. Foreign drivers need an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in the home country before flying.
  • From Seoul: Domestic flight Gimpo → Jeju (1 hr) or Incheon → Jeju (1 hr 10 min) — both are cheap (₩40,000–80,000 one-way on a normal day) and frequent.

Safety upgrades for 2026

  • 315 lifeguards deployed across all 12 beaches — 27 more than last year
  • Civilian lifeguards: 279 (most of the staffing)
  • Firefighters: 12 on standby
  • Administrative staff: 12 for permit and registration matters
  • Safety managers: 12 for daily inspection
  • Jellyfish forecast: Jeju coastal authorities post daily warnings — check the Jeju Provincial Government page or local digital signs
  • Tide and current: All 12 beaches post daily safety condition signs. Red flag = no swim. Yellow = caution.

Honest take

Jeju has been Korea's summer destination for decades, but 2026 is the most operational year yet — earliest opening, latest closing, four evening-hour beaches during peak, and the most lifeguards ever deployed. For first-time foreign visitors building a Korea trip, two days in Jeju (one beach day + one east-coast or Hallasan day) is one of the cleanest "non-Seoul" legs you can add. Hyeopjae or Hamdeok if you want the postcard image; Iho Tewoo if you want the evening lighthouse hours; the rest if you've been to Jeju before and want something quieter. Whatever you pick, July 15 – August 15 is the peak — outside of that, the same beaches are dramatically less crowded.

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