광안리해수욕장
A half-moon curve of fine sand with Gwangan Bridge stretched across the sea in front. At night the bridge lights up, and on Saturday nights a drone show fills the sky.
The beach spans Namcheon-dong, Gwangan-dong and Millak-dong, and its name comes straight from Gwangalli, a place name in Namchon-myeon, Dongnae-gun, in the Joseon era. There was a wide sand dune on the sandy shore in front of Namchon, so the name was written with 廣 ('wide') and 岸 ('bank'), but the second character was later changed to 安 ('peaceful'), giving today's Gwangan (廣安).
Since early times the waters here were good, and the shore had many huts for catching fish such as anchovies. In May 1997, Millak Waterside Park, Korea's first waterside park combining the sea with a place to rest, was completed between Haeundae and Gwangalli.
The fine-sand beach is 1.4km long and 25–110m wide. The marine leisure sports centre is close by, so you can ride a banana boat or take paddleboard and windsurfing lessons. The 500m stretch leading to the centre is the SUP Zone, where you can take pictures at the photo zone and rest under the parasols.
It is a 5-minute walk from exit 3 of Geumnyeonsan Station on subway Line 2. By bus, get off at the Gwangalli Beach stop.
Behind the beach are over 300 raw-fish restaurants, alleys of Eonyang-style bulgogi and bean-sprout hangover soup, and a café street. Performances are held regularly on the beach's permanent outdoor stage.