[LCD Chungnam] Dream with TAEAN

https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?menuSn=351&vcontsId=105248

https://www.taean.go.kr/eng/sub01_02.do

Taean (태안):

Location & Geography

• Taean is a coastal county in South Chungcheong Province, facing the Yellow Sea.

• Taean used to be called “Sotaehyeon” during the Three Kingdoms Period until the name, “Taean,” was given in 1298 (24th year of King Chungnyeol’s reign over Goryeo). 

• Famous for its long coastline, beaches, and islands (similar to how Malaysia’s Langkawi or Hong Kong’s outlying islands are described).

• Surrounded by the Taean Coast National Park, rich in marine life and wetlands.

Climate

• Four seasons: Spring (flowers), Summer (beaches), Autumn (seafood), Winter (mild but colder than Singapore/Malaysia).

• Unlike Singapore/Malaysia (equatorial, hot & humid year-round) and Hong Kong (subtropical, typhoon season), Taean has distinct seasons, especially attractive for people who want to see cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, or snowy coasts.

Population & Land Use

• Small population, less urbanized than Seoul or Hong Kong.

• Land use: agriculture (garlic, onions, strawberries), fisheries, eco-tourism.

• More relaxed lifestyle compared to crowded Hong Kong & Singapore cities.

Economy & Activities

• Known for seafood (crabs, clams, oysters, seaweed).

• Seasonal festivals:

  • Taean Tulip Festival 🌷 (spring, one of world’s top 5 tulip festivals).

  • Mud Festival (nearby Boryeong) (summer, fun + beauty industry link).

  • Seafood Festivals (autumn/winter).

• Tourism and aquaculture = main economic drivers (contrast with Singapore’s finance/trade, Malaysia’s manufacturing & palm oil, Hong Kong’s global financial hub).

Nicole's opinion:

For travelers seeking tranquility, ecological wonder, and authentic local life, Taean is the quiet but radiant gem of Chungnam’s west coast. Stretching across a vast coastline, Taean is where Korea’s natural rhythms meet its people’s pride in protecting them. The Taean Coast National Park is the crown jewel — a vast protected area that captures the harmony of wetlands, tidal flats, pine forests, and more than 130 islands that decorate the horizon like stepping stones across the Yellow Sea.

Spring awakens Taean with fields of color at the world-renowned Taean Tulip Festival, where millions of blooms transform farmland into one of the globe’s top floral spectacles. Just a short walk or drive away, farmers proudly showcase Korea’s fertile soils with garlic, onions, and strawberries, connecting the visitor to the region’s agricultural heartbeat. Summer draws energy to the beaches — Manripo, Mallipo, and Sambong — where families, youth, and adventurers gather for swimming, surfing, and moments of seaside simplicity. The pace can quicken with marine sports, yet slow just as easily with a quiet walk on the sandbanks at low tide.

Nature and tradition live side by side here. The tidal flats, listed as part of Korea’s world heritage, host clams and crabs that not only feed the locals but also become part of visitor experiences, as mud-digging and seafood harvesting transform into cultural education. The coast’s wetlands also serve as a sanctuary for migratory birds, turning Taean into a living classroom for eco-tourists and researchers alike.

Autumn brings harvests and seafood festivals, a time when Taean’s markets overflow with crabs, oysters, and seaweed harvested fresh from the ocean. Visitors find themselves embraced by locals who take pride in serving meals that are both generous and deeply tied to the sea. Winter, though quieter, offers its own calm — brisk coastal walks, seasonal catches, and hot soups that bring comfort against the cool sea breeze.

For those who wish to extend beyond nature into art and wellness, Taean offers cultural gardens, seaside pensions with traditional hanok stays, and tranquil coastal bike routes that let the landscape set the pace of exploration. Unlike the bustling urban centers of Korea, Taean’s gift is space, quiet, and a connection to cycles of land and sea.

In Taean, the visitor does not simply watch nature — they step into its rhythm, carried by the tides, welcomed by proud locals, and reminded that culture, food, and landscape can weave into one seamless journey.

Why Suitable for Chinese Visitors?

1. Geographical Proximity

   • Short flights from Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou, closer than Southeast Asia.

2. Cultural Connection

   • Shared East Asian food culture (seafood, rice-based meals, hotpot-like dishes).

   • Easier adaptation compared to Western countries.

3. Different Experience from China

   • China has big cities & crowded coastal areas, but Taean offers quiet, clean beaches and natural scenery, less commercialized.

4. Climate Attraction

   • Chinese tourists (esp. from southern China) can experience 4 seasons here, something they don’t always get back home.

5. Festival Tourism

   • Chinese visitors love festivals + photo spots → Taean’s tulip fields, sunflower farms, and mud festival are highly “Instagrammable” and appealing.

6. Relaxation & Health

   • Good for family trips, elderly visitors (hot springs, seafood health benefits).

   • Young tourists enjoy festivals, seafood markets, and beach activities.

Source from Google

Kkotji Beach

It located in beautiful Anmyeon, features a 5 kilometer stretch of white sand, and attractions like Halbaebawi and Halmaebawi Rocks (Grandpa & Grandma Rocks). Halmaebawi Rock is said to have once been a real woman, Mido, who lived during the Silla period. Her husband was sent on business and never returned. Mido sat by the ocean every day waiting for his return, eventually turning into a stone. Further out to sea, there is a large rock, which naturally earned the nickname of Halbaebawi. Many visitors come to Kkotji Beach all year round to enjoy the beautiful view, and take walks along the beach. The sunset scenery has also become a favorite for photographers.

Source from https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?menuSn=351&vcontsId=105248

Address

Seungeon-ri, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

• Website

  www.taean.go.kr/tour

• Operating hours

  Open 24 hr

• Inquiries

  +82-41-670-2695

• Parking

  Available

충청남도 태안군 안면읍 승언리

Source from https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?menuSn=351&vcontsId=105248

Aspect	Singapore	Malaysia	Hong Kong	Taean, Korea
Climate	Hot & humid all year	Tropical, hot & wet	Subtropical, mild winter	Four seasons, coastal climate
Geography	Flat island city	Mountains + coasts	Hilly, dense urban	Coastal county, beaches, wetlands, islands
Economy focus	Finance, trade	Agriculture, industry	Finance, services	Tourism, fisheries, agriculture
Tourism highlights	Marina Bay, Sentosa	Islands, rainforests	Victoria Peak, Disneyland	Beaches, Taean Tulip Festival, wetlands
Appeal for Chinese	Shopping, urban life	Nature, food	Shopping, modern city	Nature, festivals, seafood, eco-tourism