Coastal Roads Near Simgok Port
On Gangneung City’s southern coast lies three Gangwon Bike Path highlights bunched together into a stretch of scenic vistas.
- Heonhwa Road — a coastal road known nationally for its seascape.
- Simgok Port — an isolated, scenic port tucked into a hillside.
- Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road — a walking trail that floats over unique rocks.
Let’s explore each!
Heonhwa Road
Heonhwa Road (헌화로; map) stretches from Geumjin Beach to Jeongdongjin in the southern part of Gangneung City. One of the most picturesque coastal roads in the country, it is often referred to as the closest road to the sea in Korea, providing an unobstructed view of rocky coastlines, East Sea waves, and sandy beaches.
Heonhwa Road’s name was inspired by a legend from the “Samguk Yusa,” an ancient Korean collection of folklore. The story goes, Soongjeonggong, a royal official during the Unified Silla Dynasty (668~935 CE), and his wife Surobuin, rested along the Gangwon coast as they made their way to their new post in Gangneung. Surobuin spotted an azalea atop a high cliff and wanted it. No one dared make the steep ascent until an elderly man accepted the challenge. He scaled the cliff, picked the flower, and brought it back to her, singing a song called “Heonhwa”. Hence, “Heonhwa Road.”
First opened in 1998, Heonhwa received major renovations in 2008, when Gangneung rebuilt the roadway and lowered its seaside fences to 70 centimeters, allowing car drivers, cyclists, and trekkers to better see the seascape.
The most scenic stretch of Heonhwa Road lies between Geumjin Beach and the isolated Simok Port. The road winds along the coast, offering dramatic contrasts between rugged cliffs, boulders jutting from the water, and the East Sea’s azure horizon.
You can find a few well-known eateries along Heonhwa Road, including:
- Red Car Cafe (빨차카페; map), lying on Geumjin Beach, is a vintage-style restaurant known for its unique name and history. Initially, its owner parked a red food truck on the beach, serving toast and coffee to visitors. But as its food became well known, the owner bought and moved into a brick-and-mortar building right on the beach, but kept the name “Red Car Cafe.”
- Geumjin Port’s Hanggu Macha (항구마차; map) is famous for its kalguksu (noodle soup), snow crab, and raw flounder salad. Although it’s a quaint food stall, its tables are always packed with customers.
Simgok Port
Simgok Port (심곡항; map) sits in a hillside crevice near the end of Heonhwa Road, just south of Jeongdongjin. The settlement is famed for its remote, tranquil setting. Its name literally translates to “deep valley.” Some say the port was so isolated that Simgok Port’s inhabitants were unaware that the Korean War was raging around them.
Surrounded by coastal cliffs, unique sea-bound rocks, and the blue East Sea, the Simgok Port received a boost in tourism upon the opening of Heonhwa Road and Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road, whose southern entrance begins in Simgok Port. Along with Namae Port in Yangyang County and Chogok Port in Samcheok City, Simgok is considered one of the “three most beautiful ports in Gangwon State.”
Most of the port’s residents fish. Their main catches include flounder, abalone, and saury. The port is known for its seaweed, which was given to Korean kings as gifts.
Maeuntang (매운탕), or spicy fish stew, is a local specialty. During colder months, when snow tops the hillsides and the cobalt waters disappear over the frigid horizon, the stew’s savory blend warms bellies. Many Simgok Port restaurants are also known for their hammerhead shark maeuntang, which fishers catch year round.
Heonhwa Pavilion (헌화정; map; Heonhwajeong) is a small pavilion that rests on a hillside in Simgok Port. Climb a set of stairs from the port’s coastal road (road view) and catch a panoramic view of the port.
Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road
Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road (정동심곡바다부채길; map) is a walking trail that stretches 2.86 kilometers between Jeongdongjin to Simgok Port. The road is named “Sea Fan Road” because, from above, it resembles a traditional folding hand fan as it traces a curved, uninhabited terrace along Korea’s east coast.
Designated a Natural Monument, scientists have studied the trail’s rocks to learn how the area and Korea at large was formed over millions of years.
Some say Sea Fan Road’s walking course is a giant “photo zone,” with raised walkways meandering under towering, bare-faced cliffs and over uniquely shaped rocks that jut out from the sea below. It takes about 70 minutes to complete, with lookout platforms offering a chance to rest and gaze out at the sea and rocks below.
You can access Sea Fan Road from either the Sun Cruise Resort’s parking lot in Jeongdongjin or the north end of Simgok Port. The walking trail doesn’t have restrooms or convenience stores along its route. So bring water and use the bathroom before starting your walk.
Helmet Rock
One highlight along Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road is Helmet Rock (투구바위; Tugu-bawi). Lying just in the East Sea’s waters, it resembles the head of an ancient military general wearing a helmet. But, the rock isn’t known just for its unique shape. It embodies a bit of local folklore.
As legend tells, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918 ~ 1392), a six-toed tiger sat along Bamjae Road, the only way in and out of Gangneung. He prowled the coastline, looking for travelers. When he found one, he transformed into a human and challenged them to a game of Go. A skilled player, the six-toed tiger quickly defeated the traveler, then transformed back into a tiger and devoured them.
After countless souls perished, villagers pleaded for help from famed Goryeo General Gang Gam-chan (강감찬; 948 ~ 1031). General Gang sent a letter via a courier to the six-toed tiger, saying that if he didn’t leave Bamjae Road at once, he’d send soldiers to eliminate his entire clan. The tiger fled to Baekdu Mountain (백두산; Baekdusan) in today’s North Korea. Locals believe that Helmet Rock resembles General Gang Gam-chan in his battle helmet.
Fan Rock
Fan Rock (부채바위; Buchae-bawi) lies in the center of Jeongdong Simok Sea Fan Road. The broad, towering rock holds two similar bits of local folklore:
- Legend tells that a beautiful woman from North Korea’s Hamgyong Province appeared in a local elder’s dream. She cried out for help, telling the man that she was adrift in the sea near Fan Rock. The next morning, the man traveled to the rock and found a wooden box with a picture of the woman from his dream inside. So he performed a small ceremony for her, and was blessed with good luck. Later, the same woman returned to his dreams and told him she was lonely. So he built a shrine for her, which locals still worship today.
- Folklore also recalls that one night, a voice in an elder’s dream told him to visit the seaside near Fan Rock. When he traveled there the next day, a painting of three female deities floated towards him. He then built a shrine for the deities, and over centuries, the painting’s colors never faded. Villagers, who believe the painting holds a special power, still visit the shrine to consult with the deities on major life decisions.
The Attractions
Below, find a list of other major points of interest along Jeongdong Simgok Sea Fan Road.
- Fan Rock Observatory (부채바위 전망대) is an observation platform that rests beside Fan Rock. It allows visitors to glimpse the entirety of Sea Fan Road, from Jeongdongjin to Simgok Port.
- Simok Observation Tower (심곡전망타워) lies near the southern end of the Sea Fan Road near Simgok Port. It provides a high-angle view of Simok Port, Heonhwa Road, Sea Fan Road, the East Sea, and pine trees that cling to cliffs.
- Pebble Beach (몽돌해변) is made of polished pebbles on the north end of the Sea Fan Road.
Hours and Fees
- Operating Hours:
- April to October: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- November to March: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Operation times may change depending on the weather.
- Admission Fee:
- Individual: ₩5,000
- Teenagers: ₩4,000
- Children: ₩3,000
