I’m an ordinary Joe. I just love the beach more than average. So, I jump in my car and head for beach towns on the east coast every Friday. It’s been about two years since my weekly routine started.
I suddenly fell in love with surfing. Before then, surfing was just an excuse for hanging out with friends and grabbing drinks on the beach. I used to have a hard time making new friends but now travel with new surfers to the beach every week. I got new friends to surf with and found my favorite surf shops. The relationships built around surfing have grown my love for surfing more and more.
My favorite location is Namae-ri. It is in between Yangyang and Gangneung. There are three amazing beaches in this small and quiet beach town. I might be stressed out if I traveled to other spots around Namae-ri. They are too crowded for me. In this quiet place, however, I can completely relax—surfing, napping or just spending quality time with people I love.
People around me usually think about typical tourism when I tell them I go to the beach every Friday. I was the same before I fell in love with surfing. Not anymore. I set up a tent in an isolated camping site and just surf. I am not a great writer but want to share with you my life as a weekend surfer and the beaches where I feel happiness.
Jukdo beach in Yangyang is the most popular surfing spot in South Korea. This is where the greatest number of surf shops in South Korea are, with tons of accommodation and good amenities. Jukdo has high-quality waves regardless of the charts. Additionally, there is another beautiful beach called “Ingu” within walking distance from Jukdo. Ingu beach has different waves than Jukdo.
One caveat—Jukdo is really crowded. My friends told me it’s OK early in the morning around dawn and weekdays in the winter, but I haven’t surfed there yet. Despite the crowd, Jukdo is the first place that comes to my mind when someone asks me to recommend a surfing spot in Korea.
First, different levels of surfers from beginners to the advanced can enjoy surfing on Jukdo beach. There is shallow water near the beach for beginners. High-quality glassy waves are almost always available for advanced surfers. You can also take a lesson offered by one of the many surf shops in the area.
Second, Jukdo is convenient for weekend surfers. There are many guesthouses operated by surf shops, as well as a number of convenience stores. Based on your preference, you can also book an auto camping site there. You can get the most out of your weekend without leaving the area.
When you travel to Jukdo, I recommend you visit Farmer’s Kitchen. Farmer’s Kitchen used to be in Jukdo when I first started surfing but moved to Dongsan beach. Dongsan beach is just a few minutes away from Jukdo by car. About five years ago, it was a small local burger place in a humble single-story building.
Nowadays, you have to wait for a couple of hours around mealtimes. It’s totally worth waiting though. Their burgers are delicious. If you get there right before the opening time and have some luck, you might not have to wait at all.
A famous billionaire (the same guy who loves Golden Pork in this article) recently visited Farmer’s Kitchen and posted reviews on his social media. He waited for an hour in line, but said the burger was totally worth it. The queues seem to have gotten longer since his post. I always order the double cheeseburger and cheese fries every time I visit Farmer’s Kitchen. Honestly, anything on their menu tastes awesome. That’s just me. A burger with a bunch of cheese cannot be not delicious.
The second surf spot I would recommend is Gisamun beach in Yangyang.
Gisamun is my favorite spot. I regularly surf at Gisamun no matter how crowded it is. If you come over to Gisamun after surfing at Jukdo, you might ask me—why did you recommend this small beach? You are right. It’s small. There are not as many restaurants or places for drinks in Gisamun as in Jukdo. That’s not my consideration anymore as my interest in surfing blossomed into love. It’s all about the quality of waves. In terms of wave quality, Gisamun is second to none. You will find many surfers in Gisamun. Some are in beginner lessons and others seem to be veterans.
I love Gisamun. Maybe that has something to do with my unforgettable memories. I surfed in the snow for the first time in my life here at Gisamun. This is where I first started surfing with some lessons for beginners. I came here sporadically back then.
Despite many surfers, Gisamun is still a small, quiet beach town. I recommend that you eat at Gondre San Namul Bob Zip, which means Korean thistle and wild herbal greens restaurant.
It is actually weird for me to recommend Gondre San Namul Bob Zip as my taste is not much different from pre-K children. I love sweets and savory foods, including burgers and pizzas. But I never skip visiting this restaurant every time I go to Gisamun. I just came to love Gondre Jungsik when I first tried it. I even bought Gondre on my way back to Seoul and begged my mom to cook it for me.
When I mix Gondre Bob in a hot Dolsot with Gang Doenjang and various banchans, the taste is hard to explain using common words. Well, its taste always reminds me of my grandma. I always wish I was able to enjoy Gondre Jungsik with my grandma at this restaurant. I’m sure we would have if she was still alive.
When you order Gondre Jungsik, about twenty different banchans made of ingredients which Gangwon (a province to which Gisamun belongs) is famous for come along, including grilled fish, grilled Deodeok and Songi mushroom. If you’ve ever wondered about a relaxed life in a small beach town, get a taste of it from the banchans in which the small beach town atmosphere seems to be embedded.
I plan to share my life as a weekend surfer with you, primarily focused on my weekly journey to beach towns on the east coast. I would rather call it personal logs of a weekend surfer than articles. Hopefully, my writing can help anyone who wants to experience new beaches and waves in Korea. I would be more than happy if my journals could lead surfers visiting Korea to experience the beautiful surfing spots I love.
