Don’t sleep on these top 10 things to do in Hwaseong-si. I’ve included some pretty big adventures.
About Hwaseong-si
Hwaseong-si (화성시) is a sprawling administrative district south of seoul and northwest of Pyeongtaek. The district includes both highly developed and modern cities as well as expansive rural and industrial areas. It’s certainly not tourist central but if you live in the area it’s worth exploring.
Additionally, Dongtan exists within the Hwaseong-si administrative boundaries. This city alone provides many weekends of exploring potential. We could do a top 10 list just for Dongtan, however, I wanted to be more inclusive with this list.
Tips for Rural Living and Travel
If you’ve already read these tips feel free to jump straight to my recommendations for the Top 10 Things to Do in Hwaseong.
Keep in mind that rural South Korean tourism and culture planning may not assume international foreigners will visit. This means there may be limited English in some more rural locations. Consider the small towns in your country. Generally, small communities don’t have the financial resources to create information in multiple languages and they focus on the needs of the immediate community.
This remains true in rural South Korea. However, rural areas in South Korea do welcome international visitors. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable visiting. The following tools may help you feel more comfortable and engaged in rural areas where English language information and speakers may not be available.
Top 10 Things to Do in Hwaseong-si
Hwaseong-si has many different types of things to do from modern city shopping to countryside beach camping. I’ve chosen a wide selection of experiences for this particular list. I’m a bit of a blue-collar girl so I’ve included quite a few things that I love that are not fancy.
Dongtan lake park
Hangul Address
경기도 화성시 동탄호수2길 40
A little walk around this park can make room for the various cafes and restaurants nearby.
Hwaseong City International Area
Hangul Address
경기도 화성시 향남읍 3.1만세로 1124
A thriving epicenter of international restaurants and grocery stories. Food from Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian, Uzbek, Myanmar, and so much more. Walk the streets and discover foods you never knew existed.
Gungpyeong Beach
Hangul Address
경기도 화성시 서신면 궁평리 534-2
A rustic beach for fishing and relaxing. Not a big tourism spot. Fun for those who enjoy a traditional Korean beach vacation of camping and beach combing. Bring your tent and BBQ for the perfect day out Korean style.
Jebedo Island
Hangul Address
경기 화성시 서신면 제부리
Awesome island that has a beach with plenty of seafood shops! You can drive here easily.
Jeongok Port
1577-4200
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기도 화성시 서신면 전곡항로 40
You can book private yacht trips and mini group yacht tours from this port. Each yacht is an independent operator. Additionally, there are seafood restaurants in the area.
U And I Center Ice Rink
031-267-8751
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 화성시 태안로 145
A public ice rink. Use 1330 to check public skate times.
Gyeonggi Gun Range
0313526056
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 화성시 양감면 사격장길 142
An indoor outdoor gun range for target and skeet shooting. Guns provided.
Okine Apple Sunshine Farm
0507-1406-2677
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 화성시 팔탄면 구장리 254-1
Apple picking available through November. You must call this number 0507-1406-2677 and make a reservation. However, since they are older people, they may not be able to speak English, so it is better to ask a Korean colleague or friends to make a reservation 😉
Dongtan Skate Park
Hangul Address
경기도 화성시 동탄공원로2길 32
Open again after the pandemic! Large and busy skate park with intro raps and a bowl.
Lotte Department Store Dongtan
1577-0001
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 화성시 동탄역로 160
High end department store with a movie theater, pet park (small dogs), art galleries, and attached mall. Lots for families, couples, and friends. Attached to Dongtan SRT Station.
Current Air Quality in Hwaseong-si
Air quality and weather change throughout the day. However, having an idea of what the air quality is right now can help make decisions easier. You can download the Air Matters App for your phone to keep current on changing air quality conditions throughout the day. You can even set up alerts.
Hwaseong-si Air Quality
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
