What to know more about Mallipo Beach? The blog article takes a deep dive into visiting one of South Korea’s best west coast beaches.
About Swimming Season in Korea
The official ‘Swimming Season’ in South Korea is from about mid-July to sometime in August. Swimming Season is when beaches are at their height of popularity. Popular and rural Korean beaches are filled with visitors, lifeguards, public showers, activities, and all the businesses are open and supporting visitors. It’s beach party time.
During ‘Swimming Season’ your activities will be restricted to certain marked swimming areas that are strictly patrolled by lifeguards on jet skies. You may find this strange if you come from parts of the world where swimming in the sea and ocean is an unrestricted activity. However, you can quickly adjust and find tons of joy within the limited area.
During the off-season, you can still visit the beaches and be allowed to swim at most of them, except in areas like Busan and other extremely popular beaches that have begun enforcing beach closures during different times of the year. Basically, during the off-season, you can pretty much do what you want in the sea but most support services like lifeguards and public showers will be closed. However, public restrooms are often -but not always – still open.
About Mallipo Beach in Taean-gun, South Korea
Mallipo Beach exists on the west coast of South Korea in Taean-gun. Taean-gun exists along the far west side of Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. The area began gaining popularity in 2015 and continues to become more popular due to the proximity to Seoul and the variety of activities.
Mallipo Beach consists of an expansive sandy beach with low shallow waters and the surf varies from nearly flat to moderate waves. The shallow waters and low waves offer the perfect spot for beginning surfers. In fact, committed surfers catch waves at Mallipo year-round. Poor weather days often make the best surfing days.
Mallipo beach offers surfing, paddle boarding, ATV rentals, cafes, restaurants, pensions, beach umbrellas, hiking, a botanical garden, skate park, basketball courts, soccer field, and much more. All of the activities and facilities make Mallipo the perfect spot for families and large groups.
Mallipo Beach Parking Lots
As of 2021, two of the best parking lots that allow you to be close to the beach are the following lots. All lots have very easy access to bathrooms and public showers. All the lots are free as of 2021. Parking fills up heavily after 12:00pm, we recommend arriving before that for the ideal spots.
Mallipo Beach Parking 2
Parking across from the beach.
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 소원면 의항리 1121
Mallipo Tourist Parking 3
Has bathrooms and near camping. Easy beach access. Close to surf shops. However, not always open to the public. Near the skatepark.
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 소원면 만리포2길 190-3
Finding a Tent Spot on Mallipo Beach
During swimming season (July-August), beaches will be lined with umbrellas that can be rented. These will be between 30,000-40,000 for the whole day and sit back safely from high tide. Generally speaking, you can not set up your own tents between the paid locations and the ocean.
If you have not brought a tent or umbrella of your own, we highly recommend renting for the day so that you can safely take a rest. If you are from North America, you may find the sun burns you much faster in Korea than at home.
If you don’t want to pay for an umbrella, Mallipo Beach also has a few areas where you can put up your tents. These spots vary each year and may change throughout the season. When it’s not swimming season the entire beach is generally free to use.
Plenty of Outdoor Showers to Keep Away the Sand
Before entering any cafe or restaurant, make sure your feet are clean of sand. Most cafes and restaurants will have showers and feet washing areas. The beach also has free outdoor showers dotted along the sidewalk to help you get clean.
Remember that it’s not a good form to use the private showers and foot washing stations unless you plan to use the business. Instead, use the free, outdoor public showers along the sidewalks.
Dogs at Mallipo Beach
Mallipo Beach allows all sizes of dogs as of 2021. Dog owners are welcome to bring their pets as long as they follow a few basic rules.
- ALWAYS keep your dog on a leash.
- Carry a muzzle. Others may ask to have them muzzled and they have the right to ask this and you will need to comply.
- Clean up after your dogs on the beach.
Additional advice gleaned from years of visiting Korean beaches with dogs:
- ALWAYS keep your dog on a leash. It doesn’t matter what others do. Off leash dogs are not allowed on public beaches. Additinally, you likely don’t have the Korean language skills or cultural knowledge to negotiate your way out of a difficult situations that may happen. Keep your day fun by keeping your perfect pet on a leash.
- Take a tent to protect them from sun. You don’t want your pet to be out and exposed all day in the crazy hot sun. Make sure they have a safe place to escape.
- Remember that your dog also has a language barrier and can’t speak Korean. That means your dog can’t communicate with strangers and strangers can’t communicate with them. Protect your dog and others from the fear and confusing caused by this language barrier, and keep them on a leash.
Mallipo Beach Restaurants
If you are wondering what types of restaurants are at Mallipo Beach, read the following blog. Remember that restaurants often close during the off-season or winter months. Non-seafood restaurants will often change regularly due to the nature of seasonal businesses.
Mallipo Beach Pensions
It’s easiest to reserve your pension stays via Korean apps or bilingual concierge services.
Things to Do at Mallipo Beach
Mallipo Beach has many fun activities throughout the area. You can find a little something for everyone in your family or friend group.
A Sample Mallipo Beach Day Interary
Discover what a day might look like at Mallipo Beach.
Should I go to Mallipo Beach this week?
Great questions. If you need to know more about the current air quality or the weather check the following information.
Current Air Quality and Weather in Taean-gun near Mallipo
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.
If you hover over the following Air Quality graphic you will be able to see a 3-day air quality estimate.
Remember that air quality changes around Korea. It may be poor quality in one area and excellent elsewhere. Checking air quality can be a great way to choose where to go, what activities to do when you get there, and when to be inside or outside. It also can help you decide if you should purchase and carry air filter masks for outdoor activities.
Current Weather in Mallipo
For those that prefer the weather in Fahrenheit, the following report may help.
Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group
You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country.
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Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
