Gosapo Beach
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Location8-8, Norumok-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Beach
- Korean고사포 해수욕장
- Chinese故沙浦海水浴場
- FieldGeography / Human Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Facility
- Current Location8-8, Norumok-gil Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A beach located in Unsan-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- The Byeonsan Peninsula divides into two areas, Inner Byeonsan (Naebyeonsan), which is a mountainous inland area, and Outer Byeonsan (Oebyeonsan), which is a coastal area. Gosapo Beach is located in Outer Byeonsan, with Byeonsan Beach, one of the three major beaches on the west coast, situated to its north and Gyeokpo Beach to its south.
- Development
- Sandy shores (po in Korean) formed by wave and tidal activity make for ideal beaches, so areas like Wolpo, Haesangpo, Songpo, and Gosapo have beautiful natural beaches.
[Composition]
Gosapo Beach consists of a two-kilometer-long stretch of fine sand, making it the largest beach in the Byeonsan Peninsula. It is also equipped with various facilities including restrooms, showers, kitchens, and an auto campground. There is also a pine forest situated about 300 meters behind,and running parallel to, the beach, which makes it an even more attractive campground with a beautiful landscape.
- Current Status
- Gosapo Beach is situated close to National Road No. 30, which passes the Byeonsan Peninsula, about one kilometer from the Mapo Intersection in the northeast, which is crossed by Local Road No. 736. Unlike other beaches in the Byeonsan Peninsula, Gosapo Beach is not packed with commercial facilities. There are fields and farming lands nearby the National Road No. 30, which is the closest road to the beach, and a forest windbreak is located behind the beach. The local accommodation facilities include the campground by the beach and various pension buildings across the national road.
Haseom Islet is situated about 1.5 kilometers west of the middle area of Gosapo Beach. The islet (seom) was named after its shape, which is said to resemble a crouched shrimp (ha). It is known for a phenomenon similar to the parting of the sea at the ebb tide of each month, which enables tourists to reach the islet by foot. Gosapo Beach belongs to the Course 2 area which connects Songpo to Seongcheon, among the Eight Byeonsan Coastal Trail Courses in Buan. The trail passes via Songpo and continues to Samangam Rock, the Wondae Training Center, and Gosapo Beach. Byeonsan Coastal Trail Course 2, which also takes in Gosapo Beach, boasts a splendid coastal landscape and spider lilies, which come into bloom between the end of August and early September.
Although Gosapo Beach and other neighboring beaches are suffering from severe sand loss and gravelization due to climate change and the presence of the Saemangeum Embankment, various beach ‘nourishment’ projects and maintenance projects have been conducted in a bid to protect the beautiful scenery. Before the summer vacation season in 2019, the Gosapo auto campground was newly refurbished with convenience facilities and other additional facilities.
In June 2020, Gosapo Beach was selected for a coastal improvement project along with Wido and Mohang Beaches, as part of a project to establish a waterfront space in the area.