On the first day of the new year, the full opening of the Donghae Line from Samcheok in Gangwon Province to Yeongdeok in Gyeongsangbuk-do has made it easier than ever to travel along the East Coast, from Gangneung to Busan. This new railway route is expected to bring a fresh surge of interest to train travel, offering hope for the local governments along the East Coast, which face challenges due to depopulation.
Following the completion of the 44-kilometer stretch between Pohang and Yeongdeok in 2018, the 122-kilometer segment between Yeongdeok and Samcheok was recently opened. The Donghae Line is served by the ITX-Maeum train, which reaches speeds of up to 150 km/h and runs four round-trip services daily.
By 2026, the introduction of the KTX-Ium high-speed train, with a maximum speed of 260 km/h, along with improvements to the slower section between Gangneung and Samcheok, will make it possible to travel from Daegu to Gangneung in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. This will bring approximately 14 million people from areas such as Gangwon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and even Busan into a single-day living zone.
The biggest beneficiaries of the Donghae Line’s opening are the regions of Uljin in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Samcheok in Gangwon-do. Once considered remote areas of Korea, these towns are now poised to attract a wave of tourists.
One of the prime destinations along the new railway is Samcheok’s Imwon Port, which, with the new rail access, is expected to see a significant rise in visitors. Tourists can enjoy freshly caught seafood from the East Sea and take in the scenic beauty of the Surobuin Memorial Park, perfect for a leisurely stroll along the coastline.
Uljin’s Jukbyeon Port, too, is set to become a major tourist hub. The name "Jukbyeon" comes from the area's abundance of bamboo, and it is located at the northernmost tip of Uljin County, serving as a key hub for the region's fishing industry. The Jukbyeon Lighthouse, which has guided sailors for over 100 years, overlooks the Heart Beach, and nearby is the filming set of the TV drama Into the Storm. The "Skyrail" along the beach provides a romantic spot for couples.
In Yeongdeok, visitors can explore the private Metasequoia forest and the famous Manse Market, where a significant independence movement took place during the Japanese occupation. Yeonghae’s Gwasim Village, designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage, features traditional houses, a Confucian school, and other historical buildings, some of which even offer accommodations for visitors.
Beyond these specific destinations, travelers can also enjoy scenic spots such as Gangneung’s Gyeongpo Pavilion, Yangyang’s Naksansa Temple, Samcheok’s Jukseoru, Uljin’s Seongnyugul Cave, Gyeongju’s Yangnam Columnar Joint, and Pohang’s Homibangdo Peninsula. With the recent designation of the East Coast National Geopark, which includes Pohang, Gyeongju, Yeongdeok, and Uljin, as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the region is expected to become a hub for geo-tourism, attracting even more visitors in the years to come.
