About Seocheon
Things to do in Seocheon
1. Tideland Activity
On the vast mudflat, you can catch various types of clams like manila clams, surf clams, cockles, and short-necked clams. If you want to try clamming, it's recommended to bring some essential toos like waterproof pants with attached boots on, a hoe, salt, and a basket. However, it's also fine if you don't bring anything. When my family and I went clamming, we only brought spare clothes with us.
Let me share my story. A few years ago, my family and I went on a summer vacation to Seondori, Seocheon, to enjoy some mudflat activites. This tidal flats here are clean tidal flats designated as UNESCO World Natural Heritage. Unfortunately, we didn't know the tide schedule, so on the first day in Seocheon, we simply admired the sea and explored other places. The next morning, we work up early around 7a.m. and headed towards the entrance booth. There, we paid the activity fee, which is currently 8,000 won(about $7) for individuals over 19 years old and 4,000 won(about $3) for those under 18 years old. If you're just trying it out near the shore, you don't need to pay, but if you want to venture a bit farther and catch more, it's better to pay this fee. By paying, you can hop on a vehicle for free and receive a complimentary plastic bag for collecting clams. Additionally, the driver can drop you off at specific spots. If you need tools like a hoe or boots, you can rent them for 1,000 won each at the booth. You can also purchase salt for 1,000 won. Payments can be made with both credit cards and cash.
Anyway, we managed to gather over half a bag of clams. The activity lasted until lunchtime, but we didn't bring any food with us, so we ended up feeling very hungry. After the activity, we returned to town, washed our hands and feet, and packed the clams in a box filled with seawater, which cost around 5,000 won. we took the clams back home, but next time I participate, I won't bring them back or I'll bring only a few. We treated ourselves to delicious dishes like Haemul-kalguksu(seafood noodle soup) and Haemul-pajeon(seafood and green onion pancake), as shown in the picture above. They were incredibly tasty. When we arrived home, my little girl fell into a deep sleep. This activity holds a very special place in our memories.
You can see the tide schedule here.
2. Seocheon National Institute of Ecology
This institue is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but it's closed on Mondays. The entrance fee is 5,000 won for adults, 3,000 won for teenagers, and 2,000 won for children. If you participate in a program here, you can also stay overnight at an affordable price. Personally, I plan to join a program on the first day in Seocheon and then go clamming the next day. When I visited Seocheon, we didn't know about this institute, so we stayed at a hotel elsewhere. This place is quite spacious and offers numerious attractions to explore. There are various botanical gardens, including desert and wetland areas. You can even spot both water and land animals here. They also have different experiential zones and outdoor trails and playgrounds. During summer, you can enjoy playing in the water at the playground. The institute provides electronic shuttle buses for convenient transportation between buildings for free. When we visited, we had an amazing time. For more information, you can visit the official site here.
