When the monsoon retreats and scorching heat sets in, more people head to the sea. But there is no need to travel all the way to the East Sea or the South Sea, as there are places in the Seoul metropolitan area where visitors can enjoy tidal flats, surfing, and marine leisure all at once. On the 18th, guided by the city of Siheung, we explore Oido and Geobukseom, two popular summer destinations in the metropolitan region.
Oido, reachable via the Suin-Bundang Line, is known as "the sea you can reach by train." Once a small island, Oido was connected to the mainland in 1922 when an embankment was built to create salt fields. Today, it has established itself as a leading tourist destination on the West Sea, where a red lighthouse, sunsets, and fishing village scenery come together.
Oido's charm lies in its landscape, which changes twice a day. At high tide, calm waters fill the horizon, while at low tide, wide tidal flats are revealed. The tidal flat experience program at Oido Fishing Village Experience Resort, which operates from March to November each year, is the best way to feel this up close.
Visitors put on boots, take hoes and baskets, and enter the tidal flats. When they tap the mudflats following the air bubbles beneath their feet, surf clams reveal themselves. Fiddler crabs, ghost crabs, and small conches can also be found, making it a living nature classroom for children. The process of digging clams by hand is simple, but by the time the basket grows heavy, a small sense of accomplishment follows.
Oido Fishing Village Experience Resort was selected as the only Grade 1 fishing village experience resort in Gyeonggi Province in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' fishing village tourism project evaluation. It has recorded the highest number of visitors among 11 fishing village experience resorts in the province for three consecutive years since 2023. Last year, visitors reached about 29,400.
As visitors increased, the experience space also expanded. In March this year, Oido Fishing Village Experience Resort opened a second experience site near the Oido Museum, following the existing first experience site. As a result, daily capacity has expanded to about 1,600 people. The experience fee is 8,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for children. The rental fee for boots and hoes is 2,000 won. Experience times vary depending on the tides.
Geobukseom, about 10 minutes by car from Oido, is a place to encounter a more dynamic sea. Geobukseom is growing into a marine leisure hub in the metropolitan area, where surfing, marina, and water sports facilities are concentrated. In particular, it has made a name for itself as a surfing destination by hosting the World Surf League Siheung Korea Open three times.
The core facility of Geobukseom, another attraction in Siheung, is Wave Park. It is a place where artificial waves are created across an area 200 meters long and 80 meters wide, allowing visitors of all levels, from beginners to advanced surfers, to enjoy surfing. It also has a pool exclusively for children, making it suitable for family visitors.
There is plenty to enjoy on summer nights as well. The Summer Night Festa is held around the Mio Costa area of Wave Park until September 20. DJ performances, water play, and water gun events come together to create a midsummer night festival atmosphere. It runs on weekends and public holidays, and from July 25 to August 17 it is held daily.
At Lake Sihwa, visitors can enjoy water sports such as cart boats, sunset yacht boats, disco boats, and paddle boards. The Siheung Marine Leisure Academy operates yacht and kayak training, a beginner dinghy yacht class, and boat operating license training, working to broaden the base of marine leisure.
The city tour bus connecting Geobukseom and Oido is another distinctive option. The fully open double-decker bus circulates the Geobukseom Promotion Hall, the Oido Museum, and the Geobukseom Marina. A day pass costs 5,000 won, and a single-ride ticket costs 3,000 won. Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Siheung's summer sea embraces both the tranquil tidal flats and dynamic marine leisure. At Oido, visitors dig clams and learn about the ecology of the West Sea, while at Geobukseom, they encounter waves and water sports. A summer sea that is enough without traveling far—Siheung is emerging as a new option for metropolitan-area vacationers.
