Welcome to Boryeong, a seaside resort nestled in South Chungcheong Province, an absolute must-see during your trip to South Korea. Blessed with abundant natural resources, this city is home to one of the peninsula's largest beaches: Daecheon Beach. It welcomes over 3 million visitors each year for the renowned Boryeong Mud Festival.

History

Boryeong stands as an exceptional tourist destination, with a reputation that continues to grow year after year. It lies in South Chungcheong Province, along the Yellow Sea coast. The city owes its fame to Daecheon Beach and the "Boryeong Mud Festival," established in 1998. At its inception, the event aimed to showcase the benefits of Boryeong mud while promoting regional attractions. Over time, it has evolved into an international celebration.

A Short Stay in Boryeong

While mud-based activities form the main draw of the Boryeong Mud Festival, held toward the end of July, a wide range of leisure options ensures visitors enjoy full, memorable days. Music enthusiasts can indulge their passion at concerts featuring pop and hip-hop stars. These international-caliber shows offer opportunities to let loose while discovering original and eclectic tracks.

Boryeong is home to the Seongjusan National Forest. Mount Seongju peaks at 677 meters. It offers a pleasant walk through lush woodland via a hiking trail suited to all vacationers. The region also features the temples of Seodoksa, Muryangsa, and Goransa, all accessible by car.

Attending the Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival promotes a spirit of sharing and togetherness across cultures and ages, as declared by the Korea Tourism Organization director, Jae-Sang Lee: "the festival creates a unique place where people from around the world meet and interact with strangers. The event invites participants to break down walls of age, nationality, and race; and have fun together, leaving with memories and new friends."

The festival spans two weeks. To attract more participants, several parallel activities have been added, including mud wrestling and mud racing. To promote mud-based cosmetics, pop-up retail stands are set up along the waterfront. Multiple vendors offer massages, acupuncture sessions, and other treatments leveraging mud's medicinal properties. Each year, the festival concludes with a grand fireworks display.

Climate

Boryeong has a humid continental climate. January is the driest month. July and August are the warmest, though they experience substantial rainfall. If you dislike rain, avoid July visits, as it's the year's wettest month.

Easy to access, Boryeong is served by numerous buses from major cities across the peninsula.

From Seoul:

Two terminals operate buses to Boryeong: Central City Bus Terminal and Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and costs between 8,000 and 9,000 won.

From Incheon:

A direct bus connects Incheon to Daecheon Beach. However, it runs only once daily, at 1:20 p.m.

From Daegu (Daejeon):

You can find buses to Boryeong at Daegu's (Daejeon) East Terminal. The journey takes about 2 hours and costs 7,400 won.

From Busan:

From Busan Express Bus Terminal to Gunsan, the bus journey to Boryeong takes approximately 4 hours 40 minutes and costs 20,000 won.