Last Updated on April 8, 2022
California, Hawaii… pretty common places to learn how to surf. Though, what if I told you South Korea was a great place to dip your toes into the sport of surfing? It definitely doesn’t seem like that warm, tropical surfing spot that most people think of when they hear, “Surf’s up!”. Surfing in South Korea is a growing sport among the locals. Although not the only place to hang-ten in the country, in this post, we’ll head to the southern island of South Korea to find out how you can go surfing in Jeju.
Who can go surfing in Jeju, South Korea?
While the beaches on Jeju are mainly populated by locals, anyone is welcome to give surfing a try. In recent years, surfing has become much more popular among locals and international visitors.
Check out this article in The Korea Herald that really does a great job explaining how surfing has grown in South Korea over the past few years.
What level do I have to be to go surfing in Jeju, South Korea?
I’ll be honest, I had been surfing once before just a few weeks prior to visiting Jeju. The hubby and I had never been on a surfboard prior and also didn’t take lessons the first time (not the brightest move on our part, but we had a good time tumbling around the waves pretending we knew what we were doing).
Anywho, to get to my point, all levels of surfers are welcome to surf. For beginners, there are a few places that offer surf lessons. For those who are more comfortable on a board, surfboard rentals are also available.
Where to surf in Jeju, South Korea
There are two main beaches that are popular to surf at on Jeju Island – Weoljeong Beach and Jungmun Beach.
Weoljeong Beach is located on the north end of Jeju Island. This spot is best for beginners with tamer waves.
Jungmun Beach is located on the south end of Jeju Island. This spot is a little better-suited for intermediate to advanced surfers. Though, it is also beginner-friendly, as many people come here for surf lessons.
The hubby and I went to Jungmun Beach to take surf lessons with some friends from our squadron. To be honest, we had no clue it was a more advanced spot to surf, but did find that there were many surf schools that taught lessons by locals, which was the main draw for us.
If you’re interested in checking out other surf spots in South Korea, I’ve found a useful website that has live webcams and surf information for South Korea. It also provides weather, surf conditions, whether or not you need a wetsuit, what skill level each area is suitable for, and more!
How do I book surfing lessons on Jeju Island?
There are quite a few surfing schools on the island, though note that, from what we found, there are only a few surfing schools that have English-speaking instructors available for lessons.
This really limited our options for where we could take lessons. In addition to that, we had some trouble making reservations for lessons.
We were able to make reservations with a surf school but never received a confirmation with details of what to do and where to meet. We ended up just stopping by the surf school’s office prior to our reservation time to confirm everything beforehand.
After the initial set-up for lessons, we found the whole process to go quite seamlessly.
We were instructed to meet on Jungmun Beach and look for a certain tent labeled with the name of our surf school (there were lots of tents on the beach with different surf schools).
We ended up going with Jeju Barrel Surf School for lessons.
You can stop by their office at:
Jeju Barrel Surfing School
60 Saekdal Jungang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Or contact them via phone:
010-2695-0335
010-3691-0325
How much do surf lessons cost on Jeju Island?
The cost for surf lessons can vary based on surf school, time of year, day of week, number of people surfing in your group, and more.
With Jeju Barrel Surf School, we paid 60,000 won per person (which is a little under $60). Though, for the most up-to-date information on pricing, be sure to contact your surf school.
What will I learn and do in my surf lessons on Jeju Island?
Once you meet up with your surf instructor, he or she will help you get fitted into a wetsuit or rash guard (most surf schools will provide these).
You will put this on right over your swimsuit, so be sure to wear a comfortable swimsuit that will not ride-up or be bulky under the skin-tight wetsuit.
Your instructor will then choose the proper surfboard for your skill level and your height.
If this is your first time surfing, your instructor will go over the basics, give you a brief layout of the local surf, any rules to be aware of, followed by a land lesson prior to getting in the water.
A land lesson is practicing all of the maneuvers of surfing on the beach prior to getting in the water.
First, you will learn where your body should be located on the board while paddling and standing up. Next, you’ll practice paddling in the sand to get an idea of how it feels, as well as making sure you are doing it correctly. Then, you will learn the placement of your hands on the board when you are about to stand up, as well as the various techniques of standing up on the board.
Each instructor is different. When I took lessons in Jeju, we were instructed to jump our feet up onto the board. I also took lessons in Hawaii afterwards and learned a few different techniques, such as crawling up onto your feet (I found this method to be much more stable for a beginner).
After practicing these techniques, your instructor will lead you into the water.
You will paddle out and eventually, sit and wait for the perfect wave.
If you are in a group, your instructor will indicate whose turn it is.
He or she will get you ready on your board, will tell you when to start paddling, and then the first few times at least, he or she will likely push your board to give you enough momentum to get on top of the wave.
Once you [hopefully] rode your wave, you will paddle back to your instructor, making sure you are paddling out of the path of surfers.
You will take turn turns for the duration of your time in the water with your instructor before he will leave you to practice on your own for a little bit until you have to return your board.
When is the best time to go surfing in Jeju, South Korea?
Although there is surfing year-round on the island, the summer months are the best time to go surfing in Jeju, South Korea. The weather is warm, the beaches are inviting, and surf schools are open for business.
Things to know before you go surfing in Jeju, South Korea
1. Cold Water
Even during the summer months, the water is very cold. Plan on renting a wetsuit, unless you are taking lessons from a surf school, in which they will likely provide one.
2. Sandy Bottoms
The two main beaches to surf at on Jeju both have sandy bottoms. This is great for beginners so you won’t have to worry about falling into rocks or reef.
3. Lay of the Land (…er Water?)
Make sure you know the lay of the land (er… water?) before you paddle out. Check to see where surfers are surfing. If there’s an area where there are not any surfers, there’s probably a good reason for that.
4. Look for Rocks and reefs
Scan the landscape to see if there are any areas, rocks, reefs, etc. that should be avoided.
5. Map Your Route
Be aware that there usually is a channel with less wave-action that surfers will use to paddle back out. This is the safest route to ensure you will not end-up in someone’s way as they are riding a wave.
6. Get out of the way!
If you do find that a surfer is heading right towards you, it is your responsibility to try to get out of their way. Your best bet is to swim towards the white water, or opposite direction in which the surfer is going.
7. Play Nice
Know that it is usually one surfer per wave. Scan left and right before catching a wave. If there is question as to who has the “right of way”, the surfer closet to the peak of the wave has priority. Therefore, if you accidently pop up and realize you are in another surfer’s way who had the right of way, you should exit the wave as quickly as possible by jumping off out of their way.
8. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Be respectful of other surfers. Even though the ocean is open for everyone, just like any other sport, there are rules and etiquette techniques that should be followed. Ask a local or surf instructor if you are unsure of anything.
Military Spouse Tip:
Stationed at Osan, Kunsan, or another military base in South Korea? A surfing getaway to Jeju Island is a great idea for a squadron event, Pink Flag, or military spouse trip. If taking surfing lessons, check to see if they offer group discounts.
Note that some vacation rentals offer surfboards as a part of their housing accommodations! If they do not, you can ask if they have any recommendations of nearby local companies that rent out boards or offer surf lessons.
Have YOU been surfing on Jeju Island in South Korea? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!
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