Iho Tewoo Beach (Jeju)

Going to the beaches is a must-do in summer when you’re in Busan, but we absolutely did not expect to go to one on Jeju Island. We hadn’t exactly planned our Jeju itinerary at that time, but one of the stops on the Jeju Golden City Bus Tour was Iho Tewoo Beach, and we knew we couldn’t miss this chance.

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Iho Beach is conveniently located close to downtown Jeju City. The sandy, gently-sloping beach and its mix of city amenities and natural beauty make it a popular destination for tourists during the summer.

There are plenty of things for visitors to enjoy in the beach area. Visitors can rent boats to go fishing or fish off the seawall, an area known among the local fisherman for its abundance of sea smelts. For a little exercise, take a walk by the pine trees to explore the lighthouses made in the shape of horses—both cute and functional. Finish up the day with dinner at one of the many nearby sashimi restaurants and enjoy the gorgeous nightscape.

Sandy beach: 250m in length, 120m in width, 1.2m water depth, and 5-degree slope

KTO

*They aren’t kidding about the 5-degree slope btw – even the beaches can’t escape from the omnipresent slopes in Korea!

We reached Iho Tewoo beach at around evening time, and the sun was not as bright, making for a very beautiful, sunlit scenery that’s not unbearably hot.

I’m actually very glad that we didn’t look at the photos of this beach on KTO’s website before we decided to come here, because those on the official website look quite, erm, unappealing. They make Iho Tewoo beach look like a ghost town, when in actual fact, this place gets rather packed & really lively in the summer.

You get to do all the usual beach activities here, such as frolicking in the water, swimming, and renting floats so that you can, well, float in the blue waters.

Apparently these horse lighthouses are rather famous – Jeju Tourism Organization describes these as ‘shaped like the Trojan horse in Virgil’s Aeneid’. These make for really beautiful photo-ops, so make sure to snap them. It’s a little difficult to walk there though (from personal experience), but if you are the kind who go to all lengths to take an Instagram-worthy photo, by all means, go!

If you think that swimming out in the open waters is too dangerous (especially for your kiddos), that’s okay – you can opt to swim in a pool next to the beach. I have to warn you though, this pool can get very crowded because all the little children are swimming here, having swimming classes etc.

Not up for any of these water activities here? Don’t worry, you can just be like us and take a leisurely stroll along the beach and wait for the sun to set. You can also sit down on one of the chairs and watch the world go by.

For those who like to be prepared, I totally recommend that you pack some light snacks, drinks, & mat here to have a picnic. Bring a book or magazine along as well if you are planning to spend some quality time here with the sea breeze.

With regards to attire, I don’t really recall seeing anyone here in bikinis. Most wear swimsuits, or are clothed in shirt & shorts. Even the guys are wearing long-sleeved swimsuits, with only a handful baring their top. Maybe because this place is more family-oriented, and a lot of families bring their children here, so you get less of a ‘beach club’ vibe. Or, maybe they are just worried about being exposed to the sun, idk 😂 Just something to take note if you are wondering whether you should pack your bikinis here!

This beach is actually very accessible, being located close to Jeju City, and I highly encourage you to come in late spring & any time in summer (I’m not sure if beaches are a thing in winter tbh). Don’t be deceived by the sad, depressing photos on KTO’s website, because this place is much, much livelier than what their photos show!!

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OPENING HOURS

10:00-19:00 (Evening swimming hours 19:00~21:00)

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DIRECTIONS

Address: Dori-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

[Bus]
Take Green bus 7,17 or 60 / Blue bus 36.
– Get off at Iho Beach.

Blue Bus: 31, 37, 38
Red Bus: 702, 950, 960, 966, 970, 971 
– Get off at OgwangnoIpgu Entrance. (오광로입구)

Green Bus: 7, 60
Blue Bus: 31, 36, 37, 38, 500
Red Bus: 702, 950 ,960 ,966, 970, 971
– Get off at Hyeonsamaeul Village. (현사마을)