Longing in Stone: The Jeongdongjin-Simgok Badabuchae Trail Speaks to Every Traveler

Traveling north from Okgye, Gangneung's southernmost point, through Geumjin and Simgok toward Jeongdongjin, the coastal rocks seem to gaze up all at once at the sea cliffs towering above them.

The rock strata on these tidal formations share a striking uniformity — layer upon layer of diagonal lines tilted at roughly 45 degrees, rising from east to west. The sea cliffs along the shore carry the same pattern. One theory holds that the coastal terrace formations along the East Sea once held a stepped structure before tilting as the land rose.

Though the sea now separates the cliffs from the rocks below, the two clearly share the same origin. The tidal rocks seem to reach endlessly toward the cliffs, as if expressing a longing for what they once were part of.

Past Geumjin and into Simgok, the coastline gives way to sheer sea cliffs that unfold like a folding screen — terrain too rugged for any coastal road to cut through.

Local government and residents worked together to build a cliffside walkway here, giving both locals and tourists a path where waves break just below their feet as they take in the East Sea in full. That path is the Jeongdongjin-Simgok Badabuchae trail. Its terminus — or starting point, depending on direction — is the Sun Cruise Resort at Jeongdongjin, the hotel famously perched atop a cliff like a ship run aground.

Gangneung has named the Jeongdongjin-Simgok Badabuchae trail its recommended September destination as part of the "2026–2027 Visit Gangneung Year" campaign. The theme is "At the edge of the waves, meet the sea up close."

The trail follows a coastal terrace designated as a natural monument, offering close-up views where dramatic rock formations meet the blue East Sea. Unusual rock formations of every shape seem to speak to walkers at every turn along the path.

After walking the Badabuchae trail, the southern Gangneung area offers a natural extension of the trip — Jeongdongjin Station, Sandglass Park and Heonhwa-ro are among the region's signature attractions.

At Jeongdongjin Station, said to be the train station closest to the sea in the world, visitors can step into the landscape made famous by Lee Jung-jae and Ko Hyun-jung in the drama series "Sandglass" — a scene of railway tracks, pine trees, white sand and open water. At Sandglass Park, a giant hourglass that has become the symbol of Jeongdongjin anchors a leisurely beachside stroll.

In Jeongdongjin, a rail bike ride offers a fresh way to take in the scenery where sea and railway meet. In the evening, the Moonlight Art Show blends light and video to reveal a side of Gangneung that feels entirely different from the day.

The recommended September itinerary runs: Jeongdongjin-Simgok Badabuchae trail — Sandglass Park — Haslla Art World — Moonlight Art Show.

The day begins with a walk along the Badabuchae trail for close-up views of the rocky cliffs and the East Sea, followed by a relaxed seaside visit to Sandglass Park before heading to Haslla Art World, where art and nature intertwine.

The evening closes with the light and video spectacle of the Moonlight Art Show, packing coastal trekking, cultural experiences and nighttime entertainment into a single day. Visitors who post photos from the trip on personal social media and verify the post on the Visit Gangneung tourism website will be entered into a draw for prizes.

The Jeongdongjin and southern Gangneung area is also a fine place to eat — fresh seafood from the East Sea goes into generous bowls of spicy seafood stew, while cockle bibimbap, combining a spicy sauce with chewy cockles, makes for a standout dish that pairs naturally with a day by the sea, rounding out the pleasures of a September trip to Gangneung.

Bae Gwang-sik, head of the tourism policy division, said the Jeongdongjin-Simgok Badabuchae trail in September is "the place where you can meet the breathtaking scenery of the East Sea up close, with a cool sea breeze." He added that he hoped visitors would "start with the Badabuchae trail and explore the many attractions of Jeongdongjin and southern Gangneung together, enjoying an early-autumn trip that blends walking, hands-on experiences, culture and food."