Taean

Currency	South Korean won (₩, KRW)
Electricity	220V, 60Hz
Time zone	UTC+9
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Taean County (태안군, Taean-gun) is a coastal county in Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong Province), South Korea, known for its beaches, coastal sand dunes, and its location within Taeanhaean National Park.

Taean sits on a peninsula on the west coast of South Korea and is largely surrounded by the sea. The county is best known for its many beaches and its role as part of Taeanhaean National Park, which stretches along 230 km of coastline and includes 26 beaches, sand dunes, and 72 islands.

People have lived on the Taean peninsula for thousands of years. Shell mounds on Anmyeondo, such as the one at Gonam, are from the Neolithic period, and dolmens (prehistoric stone tombs) have been found at Jangsan-ri in Taean-eup and at Gonam-ri.

In 369, the Baekje kingdom took over the small Mahan states of the area. Later the area was part of Silla. In 1298, during the Goryeo period, it was renamed Taean and became a county. In 1914, under Japanese colonial rule, Taean County was merged into Seosan County. It became a separate county again on 1 January 1989.

In December 2007, the oil tanker Hebei Spirit was involved in a collision off Taean's coast, which caused a large oil spill. According to the county's memorial hall, about 1.23 million volunteers took part in the recovery. The hall opened in 2017 (see See).

Taean has four seasons. The figures here are for Seosan, the neighbouring city (1991–2020 averages). Winters are cold, with a January average of about −1.6 °C. Summers are hot and humid, with an August average of about 25.3 °C. The wettest months are July and August, with about 275 mm and 285 mm of rain, out of about 1,250 mm for the whole year. In spring, dust from China (hwangsa, 황사) can affect the air, and in summer the coast can be hit by typhoons.

Taean is on a peninsula, and the easiest way to arrive is by intercity bus or by car. The Taean County public transportation website lists intercity bus routes from Taean to Seoul, Gimpo Airport, Incheon, Incheon Airport, and Daejeon. Hongseong, which has a train station, is also connected to Taean by bus.

Taean Public Bus Terminal has intercity buses to Seoul (Gangnam, Nambu, and Dong Seoul), Gimpo Airport and Goyang, Incheon, Incheon International Airport, and Daejeon. Buses also go to Cheonan, Asan, Hongseong, Naepo, Yesan, Boryeong, and Gunsan. The times below are from the county timetable (departures from Taean) and can change (Oct 2026):

• Seoul Gangnam: about 2 hours. Buses leave about once an hour from 06:30 to 19:30.
• Seoul Nambu, Dong Seoul, and Gimpo Airport/Goyang: about 2 hours 40 minutes.
• Incheon: about 1 hour 50 minutes.
• Incheon Airport: about 3 hours. The first bus leaves at 03:20.

Timetables and fares are on the Taean County public transportation website (in Korean).

36.7476126.30291 Taean Public Bus Terminal (태안공용버스터미널). The main intercity bus terminal of Taean County, in Taean-eup. Buses also run to Daejeon, Boryeong, Gunsan, Hongseong, Anmyeondo, and Mallipo.  

The nearest rail connections are by bus from Taean Public Bus Terminal. Buses to Hongseong take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Buses to Cheonan and Asan go via Seosan and a KTX station, and take about 2 hours to Cheonan.

36.5995126.68112 Hongseong Station (홍성역). A train station in Hongseong, South Chungcheong. Buses from Taean to Hongseong take about 1 hour 30 minutes.  

The nearest large international airport is Incheon International Airport, near Seoul. According to the Taean timetable, a bus from Taean to Incheon Airport takes about 3 hours. Buses from Taean to Gimpo Airport also exist (about 2 hours 40 minutes).

37.4625126.43923 Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항). South Korea's main international airport. The Taean bus timetable lists a bus to the airport.  

Taean can be reached by car from Seoul via the Seohaean Expressway, a drive of roughly 2 hours. The peninsula connects to the mainland by land through Seosan, and National Route 32 links Taean with Seosan.

A car or rental car is recommended, as many beaches and attractions are spread out along the coastline.

A rental car gives the most freedom, since the beaches, trails, and fishing villages are far apart. For example, Mallipo Beach is about 16 km in a straight line from Taean-eup.

Taean County has local city buses and rural buses. Routes, bus stops, and timetables can be searched on the Taean County public transportation website. The website is in Korean.

From Taean Public Bus Terminal, there are also buses to places inside the county such as Anmyeondo and Mallipo (about 30 minutes each, several times a day), as well as to Boryeong and Hongseong.

For questions, the public transportation help line is +82 80 850 9485 (toll-free). For city bus questions, you can also call Taean Yeogaek (태안여객) at +82 41 675 6674.

Some of Taean's islands can be reached by boat. The county's transportation website lists ferry services from Anheung Sinjin Passenger Terminal (안흥신진여객터미널) to Gaui Island (가의도), and it also lists a ferry terminal at Yeongmok Port (영목항). Check the website for the ferry timetable.

Taean's sights are far apart, but walking is a good way to see the coast once you arrive. The county has marked walking trails called "Taean roads" (태안의 길), including the Solhyanggi Trail and the seven-course Haebyeon Trail (see Do). The Haebyeon Trail courses are 9 to 22 km long and take about 3 to 8 hours each.

Bicycle rental shops are not listed on the county tourism website, so ask at your accommodation before counting on a bike. Because the beaches and sights are far apart, a bicycle is only practical for short trips within one area.

Taean County promotes eight scenic spots called the "Taean Eight Views" (태안팔경): Baekhwasan, Anheung-jinseong Fortress, the Anmyeon pine forest, Mallipo, the Sinduri dunes, Gaui Island, Mongsan Beach, and the Halmi and Harabae rocks at Kkotji.

• 36.495816126.3367121 Kkotji Beach (꽃지해수욕장). One of Taean's best-known beaches, famous for sunset views over its twin "Halmi-Harabae" rock formations.  
• 36.80415126.134982 Mallipo Beach (만리포해수욕장). A long, wide sand beach and one of Taean's most popular tourist beaches.  
• 36.91823126.215443 Hagampo Beach (학암포해수욕장). A quieter beach known for shellfish digging and coastal pine forest.  
• 36.72194126.293064 Mongsanpo Beach (몽산포해수욕장). A beach known for its wide tidal flats, popular for family visits and mudflat activities; officially listed as one of the "Taean Eight Scenic Views".  

• 36.78722126.143615 Taeanhaean National Park. A national park stretching along Taean's coastline, encompassing 26 beaches, coastal sand dunes, rock formations, and 72 islands.  
• 36.84523126.191426 Sinduri Coastal Dune (신두리 해안사구). A large coastal sand dune system designated as a Natural Monument of South Korea.  
• 36.7989126.14947 Chollipo Arboretum (천리포수목원). An arboretum on the coast near Sowon-myeon, founded by Carl Ferris Miller (Min Byeong-gal), with one of Korea's largest plant collections.  
• 36.67361126.1348 Sinjindo (신진도). A small island connected to the mainland by bridge near Anheung, with fishing harbours and coastal views.  

• 36.66442126.133189 National Taean Maritime Relics Exhibition Hall (국립태안해양유물전시관). A national museum displaying artifacts recovered from shipwrecks off Taean's coast, including Goryeo-era ceramics.  
• 36.68253126.1465310 Anheung-jinseong Fortress (안흥진성). A Joseon-era coastal military fortress, designated a national historic site (Sajeok).  
• Gonam Shell Mound Museum (고남패총박물관), Anmyeon-daero 4270-6, Gonam-myeon (고남면 안면대로 4270-6), ☏ +82 41 670 5618. A museum on Anmyeondo about the Neolithic shell mounds of the area. It shows more than 470 prehistoric items, including Neolithic comb-pattern pottery and Bronze Age plain pottery. Opened in 2002. (updated Oct 2026)
• Oil Spill Recovery Memorial Hall (유류피해극복기념관), Cheollipo 1-gil 120, Sowon-myeon (소원면 천리포1길 120), ☏ +82 41 670 2925. A memorial hall about the 2007 oil spill and the roughly 1.23 million volunteers who helped with the recovery. It opened in September 2017 and has an exhibition hall and a video experience room. (updated Oct 2026)

• 36.49611126.326391 Taean World Tulip Festival (태안 세계튤립꽃박람회): Annually, for about a month from mid-April. An annual tulip festival held at Korea Flower Park, featuring large-scale tulip displays.
• 36.56194126.313892 Baeksajang Port Prawn Festival (백사장항 대하축제): Annually, in autumn. An annual seafood festival celebrating the local prawn (dae-ha) catch at Baeksajang fishing port.

• Haebyeon Trail (해변길). A coastal walking trail in seven courses, from Hagampo in the north to Yeongmok Port in the south. The courses are Bara-gil (10.2 km, about 4 hours), Sowon-gil (22 km, about 8 hours), Pado-gil (9 km, about 3 hours), Solmoraet-gil (13 km, about 4 hours), Noeul-gil (12 km, about 3 hours 40 minutes), Saetbyeol-gil (13 km, about 4 hours), and Baram-gil (16 km, about 5 hours). Noeul-gil ends at Kkotji Beach, which is known for its sunsets. 
• Solhyanggi Trail (솔향기길). A coastal pine-forest trekking trail running along Taean's shoreline in several courses, popular for hiking. 
• 36.84523126.191421 Sinduri Dune Ecological Trekking. Guided or self-guided walking trails through the protected Sinduri sand dune ecosystem, one of the "Taean Eight Scenic Views".  
• 36.49056126.349442 Anmyeondo Recreational Forest Walk (안면도자연휴양림). Walking trails through a pine forest recreational area on Anmyeondo island.  

• 36.72194126.293063 Mongsanpo Mudflat Experience. Guided tidal-flat (getbol) experience program for digging clams and observing coastal ecology.  
• 36.72139126.37754 Jinsan-ri Fishing Village Shellfish Digging (진산리 어촌체험장). A fishing-village experience center offering clam-digging programs for visitors.  
• 36.87778126.141675 Eoeundol Beach Clam Digging (어은돌해수욕장 조개잡이). A tidal clam-digging activity near Mallipo, popular with families.  
• 36.80415126.134986 Surfing at Mallipo Beach. Mallipo's open coastline and waves, nicknamed "Mallipornia", make it one of the west coast's only dedicated surfing spots.  

Local specialties of Taean include six-clove garlic (육쪽마늘), Anmyeondo chili peppers (안면도고추), and sand lance fish sauce (까나리액젓). Fishing ports also sell fresh seafood. The county's trail guide mentions Baeksajang Port, known for prawns, and the small Uihang Port, where seafood can be bought when the boats come in.

• Taean Gadeuk (Taean Local Food Market) (태안가득). An online market for Taean's farm products, seafood, meat, and processed foods. The website is in Korean. (updated Oct 2026)

The county lists restaurants that it has designated as "model restaurants" (모범음식점) on its tourism website. Taean is known for seafood, and the specialties below are the ones given in that list. Check opening hours by phone before you go.

• Ttanttuk Tongnamu Sikdang (딴뚝통나무식당), Jounmakteo-gil 23-22, Anmyeon-eup (안면읍 조운막터길 23-22), ☏ +82 41 673 1645. Crab dishes. Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)
• Solbat Garden (솔밭가든), Jangteo-ro 176-5, Anmyeon-eup (안면읍 장터로 176-5), ☏ +82 41 672 2034. Blue crab stew (kkotgetang) is its listed specialty. Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)
• Dami Hoetjip (다미횟집), Bangpohang-gil 115, Anmyeon-eup (안면읍 방포항길 115), ☏ +82 41 673 1124. Raw fish restaurant, with rockfish (ureok) as its listed specialty. Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)
• Deungdae Hoetjip (등대횟집), Sinjinbudu-gil 104, Geunheung-myeon (근흥면 신진부두길 104), ☏ +82 41 675 7557. Raw fish restaurant near Sinjin Port. Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)
• Daeu Sikdang (대우식당), Guncheong 8-gil 42-4, Taean-eup (태안읍 군청8길 42-4), ☏ +82 41 674 2934. Serves stone-pot rice (dolsotbap). Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)
• Namunjeong (남문정), Guncheong 4-gil 3, Taean-eup (태안읍 군청4길 3), ☏ +82 41 675 5321. Korean set meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant in the county seat. Listed by Taean County as a model restaurant. (updated Oct 2026)

Most cafés and bars are in Taean-eup, the county seat.

• 36.74913126.303551 Coffee Mama, Jungang-ro 79, Taean-eup, ☏ +82 41 674 1332. A coffee shop in the centre of Taean-eup.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.74933126.305342 Cafe Haru, Hugok-ro, Taean-eup, ☏ +82 41 674 2781. A coffee shop in the centre of Taean-eup.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.75488126.303583 Cafe Montblanc (몽블랑), Saemgol-ro 63-1, Taean-eup, ☏ +82 41 672 3577. A coffee shop in Taean-eup.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.74548126.302764 Glue Bar, Hugok-ro 91, Taean-eup. A bar in the centre of Taean-eup.  (updated Oct 2026)

Taean County lists accommodation by type on its tourism website: general lodging (hotels and motels), living-type lodging, minbak (private homestays), and pensions. The room numbers below are from that list.

• Island Resom (아일랜드 리솜), Kkotji Haean-ro 204, Anmyeon-eup (안면읍 꽃지해안로 204), ☏ +82 41 671 7000. A large lodging with 248 rooms, on the Kkotji coast road on Anmyeondo. (updated Oct 2026)
• Mallipo Hotel (말리호텔), Mallipo 1-gil 95, Sowon-myeon (소원면 만리포1길 95), ☏ +82 41 675 3877. A hotel with 47 rooms in the Mallipo area. (updated Oct 2026)
• Beach Condo Motel (비치콘도모텔), Sinjindo-gil 4, Geunheung-myeon (근흥면 신진도길 4), ☏ +82 41 675 0877. A motel with 33 rooms near Sinjindo. (updated Oct 2026)
• Baekhwasan Motel (백화산모텔), Sudeung-gil 245, Taean-eup (태안읍 수등길 245), ☏ +82 41 675 6196. A motel with 25 rooms in Taean-eup. (updated Oct 2026)

The emergency numbers in South Korea are 112 for the police, 119 for fire and ambulance, and 122 for the coast guard (emergencies at sea). The Korea Travel Hotline, 1330, gives tourist information and a free translation service.

Taean's coast has a large tidal range. Some sights, such as the traditional fish traps (dokssal) at Uihang Beach, can only be seen at low tide. Check the tide times (물때) on the county website before you walk on tidal flats.

The Taean County Office can be reached at +82 41 670 2114. The county's tourism website also has English, Japanese, and Chinese versions.

• Boryeong — known for Daecheon Beach and the Boryeong Mud Festival.
• Seosan — home to the Seosan rock-cut Buddhas.

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