Hamdeok Beach 함덕해수욕장

Hamdeok Beach is open all year, but the lifeguarded swimming season in 2026 ran from 24 June to 6 September, 10:00–19:00 daily. Entry is free; in season a parasol costs 20,000 won. Express bus 101 runs from Jeju Airport to the beach stop in 10 stops, so it works without a car.

Hamdeok (함덕해수욕장) is a white-sand beach on Jeju’s north coast, east of Jeju City. Its clear, shallow emerald water and the green cone of Seoubong rising at its eastern end have made it the island’s most visited beach. Visit Jeju also lists it as Hamdeok Seoubong Beach.

Is Hamdeok the right beach for you?

Go to Hamdeok if you want an easy swim near Jeju City or the airport, especially with children, or a beach stop on an east-coast day. Look elsewhere if you want quiet: about 700,000 people came during the 2026 season, more than three times as many as at Hyeopjae, the next busiest.

	Hamdeok	Hyeopjae	Iho Tewoo
Where	North-east, about 10 stops from the airport on express 101	West coast, facing Biyangdo	Jeju City, closest to the airport
Visitors, 2026 season	About 700,000 (most on the island)	About 203,000	Not published
Peak-season evenings	No; swimming ends at 19:00	Swimming until 21:00 (15 Jul–15 Aug)	Swimming until 21:00 (15 Jul–15 Aug)
Special	Dog swimming zone	—	Barrier-free beach for travellers with limited mobility

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province press releases of 22 June and 7 September 2026. All 12 official beaches share the same season and prices. For the other two, see the Hyeopjae Beach guide and Iho Tewoo on the Jeju page.

Swim season, hours and prices

	2026
Season	24 June – 6 September (75 days)
Swimming hours	10:00–19:00 daily; no evening swimming at Hamdeok
Entry	Free
Parasol	20,000 won
Raised platform (pyeongsang)	30,000 won

Province press release and Visit Jeju, checked 22 October 2026. Rental prices have been held at half their 2023 level for three seasons. Lifeguards and 119 rescue crews cover the beach only in season. When the 2026 season ended, safety staff spent two weeks asking people not to go in the water. Treat a swim outside June–September as unsupervised.

The 2027 season dates have not been announced yet.

Is the water calm enough today? During the season, the Hamdeok control room (064-728-3989) can tell you after 10:00 whether swimming is allowed.

Getting to Hamdeok Beach

All buses below stop at Hamdeok Transfer Stop (Hamdeok Beach) (함덕환승정류장(함덕해수욕장)) on the coast road behind the sand.

From	Bus	Notes
Jeju Airport	Express 101 towards Seongsan or Namwon	10 stops, via Jeju Bus Terminal
Jeju Bus Terminal	201 (east coast road) or express 101	The 201 stops in every village, so it is much slower
Jeju City	Trunk 325 (from Dongmun Rotary, by Dongmun Market) or 341	Some runs end at Hamdeok
Back to the airport	Express 101	From the stop on the other side of the road (…[북])

Routes and stop orders from the Jeju Bus Information System, checked 22 October 2026. Check departures in Kakao Map or Naver Map before you set out. A T-money card works on every island bus.

By car, Hamdeok is on the coast road towards Gimnyeong and Seongsan, with a public car park by the beach. Visit Jeju lists step-free access, accessible toilets and accessible parking.

What to do at Hamdeok

• Swim and paddle. The bay is shallow with a gentle slope and water clear enough to see the sand and seaweed.
• Climb Seoubong. The volcanic cone at the east end has a path to the top with a view over the whole beach. On clear days you can also see Hallasan and the cones of the east. It is yellow with canola flowers in spring.
• Walk the bridge and the lawn. A footbridge on the western side lets you walk out over the water, and a grassy park just above the beach is a popular photo spot. The seafront path draws walkers at night and all year round.
• Walk the Olle. Jeju Olle Route 19 runs along the beach, so you can walk on along the coast.
• Bring the dog. In 2025 Hamdeok became the first beach in Jeju where dogs may swim. In season, the Ham Dog Beach zone in front of the Seoubong entrance is set aside for them. Keep a lead or harness of 2 m or less and pick up waste.

Tips

• Go early in summer. It is the island’s busiest beach. Arrive in the morning on summer weekends for space on the sand and in the car park.
• Facilities. Visit Jeju lists public toilets, a convenience store and drinks stands.
• Off-season visits. From autumn to spring Hamdeok is a fine stop for a walk and the climb up Seoubong, but not for a swim.

Around Hamdeok

Hamdeok sits between Jeju City and the east. Visit Jeju’s list of nearby sights includes Bukchon Dol Hareubang Park, the Neobeunsungi 4·3 Memorial Hall, Gimnyeong beach and the Manjanggul lava tube. With the Bijarim forest inland, these make a good half-day east of the city. On the way back, Dongmun Market in Jeju City is a short bus ride for dinner. For a full east-coast day, start with sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong and the ferry to Udo. For flights, buses and where to stay, see the Jeju guide and the Jeju region page.