Goodbye Seoul: Why Haenam Should Be Your Next Korean Getaway

Looking for a Korean summer escape with beaches, mountains, forests and ocean views all in one place? Haenam, at the southern tip of Jeollanam-do, offers all four making it an underrated destination for a weekend getaway.

Start at Heukseoksan Recreational Forest, where summer rain darkens the mountain's rocky peaks and brings its "black stone mountain" name to life. Visitors can also stay overnight and join healing programs surrounded by nature.

Then head to Land's End, the southernmost point of the Korean peninsula. The area features Ttangkkeut Village, an observatory, a monorail and a marine natural history museum, with the Land's End Tower and skywalk offering some of the best ocean views.

For a beach day, Ttangkkeut Songho Beach combines calm, shallow water with a centuries-old pine forest, making it especially popular with families.Want to slow things down? Daeheungsa, a thousand-year-old temple in Duryunsan mountain, offers temple stays centered on meditation and traditional routines. Or take the Duryunsan cable car to Gogyebong peak for panoramic views of the Dadohae islands.

For something more active, Duryunsan Eco Healing Park offers cart racing and a four-season sled run.

From beaches and forests to temples and mountain adventures, Haenam has everything you need for a summer escape without the crowds of Korea's better-known destinations.