Ilsan Beach

A wide shot of Ilsan Beach, that hides the lack of cleanliness somewhat.

James Saunders

Upon arriving in the area you may feel like you have just been deposited in some downmarket seaside resort. Walking down the main road towards the seafront this becomes even more apparent. There are a number of amusements almost all of which are heavily worn and dated. Small go-karts for children, test your strength machines and video games spit noise and colour at you from the side.

It is not the cleanest beach one will ever visit. In fact, I continue to be horrified by the amount of rubbish that accumulates there. It puts me off playing sports for fear of stepping on something. On one recent visit we had trouble finding a spot to sit near the water that wasn’t already occupied by some sort of flotsam.

Yet, despite all of the tack and lack of beach cleanliness the area does have a number of positive, redeeming features that should not be overlooked.

When reaching the beachfront from the main road the last building on the left, also home to a January’s Coffee, houses a very cool restaurant on the second floor. Upon walking into the place you will be greeted with a number of tables and a fish tank for a floor. Once sat down on this floor you can order a number of fish dishes (or just drinks) while the little guys swim obliviously below you. It makes a great place to spend a sunset, as it looks right out over the beach. If you are at the restaurant when it is dark outside the tanks then emit a sexy blue coloured hue that makes for quite a funky atmosphere.

Further, there are usually a number of Korean males outside setting off firecrackers and/or fireworks - a regular occurrence on beaches right across the country.

The beachfront itself offers a number of places to eat and drink. There are two coffee places towards the steps that lead up to Ulgi Park which have swinging benches and an outside terrace. There is a good selection of coffees and milkshakes available at a fair price.  There is also a new sushi buffet, and a convenience store with a large patio outside.

Ilsan beach however, is the home of Subway Sandwiches in Ulsan that sells the usual fare of subs that you would expect to find anywhere else in the world. It is a small place but a refreshing reminder of home especially when sitting there eating with a few friends. Walk straight across the busy main road when coming back from the beach and it’ll be a few stores up on the right hand side.

Ilsan beach leaves a passably positive impression and with the Korean Union being a short taxi ride away, there is always the possibility of extending a visit into a decent night out.

Getting There

Ilsan beach is not wallet denting from anywhere in the city via taxi, especially if the fare is shared with someone.