Wando beaches open with festivals, healing pools — and global eco-tourism honor
by Korea JoongAng Daily
Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach in Wando County, South Jeolla [WANDO COUNTY OFFICE]
Three Blue Flag-certified beaches in Wando County, South Jeolla, are slated to open beginning Saturday, according to county officials.Blue Flag certification is an international eco-label awarded to beaches that are clean and eco-friendly by the non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark. It evaluates beaches on 137 criteria across water quality, safety, environmental education and facilities.
Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach, one of Wando County's representative vacation spots, has earned the Blue Flag certification for eight consecutive years. Among 5,042 beaches worldwide that received the status this year, including five in Korea, Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach was also named in the certification's global “Special Mention Top 10.”
The beach opened on Saturday to this summer's vacationers, in tandem with the annual "Mt. Gyejoksan Barefoot Festival," where participants walk barefoot along a 14.5-kilometer-long red clay trail.
“Being selected among the global top 10 Blue Flag beaches proves Myeongsasimni is not only one of the finest vacation spots on Korea’s southern coast but also internationally recognized for its pristine environment,” said Wando County Mayor Shin Woo-cheol. “We will further develop Myeongsasimni into a top-tier wellness tourism destination where visitors can enjoy both summer recreation and marine healing.”
Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach in Wando County, South Jeolla [WANDO COUNTY OFFICE]
During its opening season, the Myeongsasimni Beach is slated to host a slew of events, including sand sculpture exhibitions, beach volleyball tournaments and live busking performances.
On Saturday evening, the county's annual “Healing Chimaek Festival” featuring fried chicken, beer and an EDM concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Last year’s "Chimaek Festival" drew over 4,000 visitors, according to the county.
Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach in Wando County, South Jeolla [WANDO COUNTY OFFICE]
The name Myeongsasimni is commonly used for beaches across Korea, but the one in Wando County is unique in its meaning. While other beaches use Chinese characters meaning “bright sand,” Wando’s version uses characters that mean “crying sand." The name refers to the distinctive sound the sand makes as waves wash over it—a sweeping, rustling noise that is said to carry for miles.
Behind the vast 4-kilometer stretch of the beach's coastline is a pine forest suitable for camping and cooking. The nearby rocky coastline attracts anglers from all over the country due to its diverse range of fish species. Since the bridge connecting Wando and Sinji Island opened in 2005, the beach has drawn over 1 million visitors annually.
Also driving recent tourism is the Wando Marine Healing Center, which opened in November 2023 near Myeongsasimni Beach. The center offers wellness activities inspired by ancient Greek thalassotherapy, otherwise known as healing using seawater. They include thalasso pools, meditation pools, seawater mist rooms, seaweed foam baths, mud therapy, seaweed body wraps and stone massages.
In addition to Myeongsasimni, Bogil Island's Yesongri Beach in Wando County received Blue Flag certification for the fifth year in a row, while Cheongsan Island's Sinheungri Beach, also in Wando County, was certified for the third straight year. These two beaches will open from July 25 through Aug. 17.
Bogil Island's Yesongri Beach in Wando County, South Jeolla [WANDO COUNTY OFFICE]
Yesongri Beach is known for its clean pebbled shore with little sediment and excellent natural purification, while Sinheungri Beach has calm waves and clear water, making it one of Korea’s safest beaches.
Dadaepo Beach in Busan and Daekwang Beach in Shinan County, South Jeolla, also hold a Blue Flag certification.
Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
Reference Written by CHOI KYEONG-HO [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr] Provided by Korea JoongAng Daily
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
KoreaJoongAngDaily
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Lazy Koreans? Only 1 in 4 adults engage in strenuous activity, health data warns.
2025-07-12 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
North Seongsu: Trendy but not trending (yet)
2025-07-12 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Too hot for school: Summer break may come early
2025-07-10 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Take cover! KMA recommends parasols to shun the sun.
2025-07-10 00:00:00
BEST STORIES
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100
2025-07-07 00:00:00
Street Food Guy
What Are the Hidden Costs Behind Cheap Airfare?
2025-07-08 00:00:00
AllblancTV
Super Sweat Fullbody Cardio Hiit (Part 2/2)
2025-07-07 00:00:00
Visit Dubai
Fabulous things to do in Dubai for free
2025-07-09 00:00:00
Travel
KoreaJoongAngDaily
From culture to food and every other mood, Jeju unveils summer recommendations
2025-07-03 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Rare chance to explore Mount Halla's crater lake expanded due to overwhelming demand
2025-06-23 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
In the age of TripAdvisor, travel agencies get creative to court Gen Z
2025-06-22 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
International students bond, reconnect with nature on the Seoul Trail
Sinji Myeongsasimni Beach in Wando County, South Jeolla [WANDO COUNTY OFFICE] 
