East Coast

Korea's flagship surf coast: Sokcho through Yangyang to Gangneung, facing the East Sea. The bulk of Korean surf culture is concentrated around Yangyang — Surfyy Beach, Jukdo, Ingu and Hajodae host most of the country's surf schools and shops. The season runs Oct–Apr on NE groundswell from Pacific storm systems, with light NW continental offshore winds keeping the lineup clean. Water drops to 6–10°C in winter, demanding 5/4mm + hood + boots. Summer is small wind-driven surf, though typhoons in Aug–Sep can deliver clean overhead pulses.