Jeongdongjin Station, Gangneung
Railway station · Data as of
Jeongdongjin Station in Gangneung is introduced as the railway station closest to the sea in Korea, and takes its name from lying due east of Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace. It opened as a regular station in 1962; thanks to nearby coal mines the population once reached 5,000, but by the early 1990s it was so quiet that trains barely ran. After it became famous through the 1995 TV drama Sandglass (Moraesigye), people came to watch the sunrise and it became a nationally known attraction. Hours vary by line; for inquiries, call the Moraesigye Tourist Information Center at +82-33-640-4536.
- Location
- 강원특별자치도 강릉시 강동면 정동역길 17
- Opening hours
- Varies by line
- Closed
- Open all year
- Admission
- Check on site
- Contact
- Moraesigye Tourist Information Center, +82-33-640-4536
- Restrooms
- Available
What is Jeongdongjin Station?
Short answer: A railway station in Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung, introduced as the station closest to the sea in Korea.
The name Jeongdongjin comes from its position due east of Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace. It opened as a regular station in 1962.
What are the opening hours and admission fee?
Short answer: The official data gives no admission fee, so check on site. Hours vary by line, and it is open all year.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 강원특별자치도 강릉시 강동면 정동역길 17 |
| Opening hours | Varies by line |
| Closed | Open all year |
| Admission | Check on site |
| Contact | Moraesigye Tourist Information Center, +82-33-640-4536 |
| Restrooms | Available |
Train times vary by line, so check with Korail. To see the sunrise, check the sunrise time for the season. For inquiries, call +82-33-640-4536.
What should I see at Jeongdongjin Station?
Short answer: Watch the sunrise, and look around nearby Jeongdongjin Beach, the black pine known as the Sandglass Tree, and the Jeongdongjin poetry monument.
With coal mines clustered nearby, the population once reached 5,000, but the coal industry rationalization policy turned it into a small fishing village of fewer than 2,000 people. When the 1995 drama Sandglass became a huge hit, the Jeongdongjin Station area where it was filmed became known across the country.
It is described as so lively that, besides the six-hour sunrise train between Cheongnyangni in Seoul and Jeongdongjin, tourist trains to Jeongdongjin run from all over the country.
Where can I stay near Jeongdongjin Station?
Short answer: The closest is 솔게스트하우스 정동진점 (guesthouse), about 1 min walk. These are the 2 closest stays within 1 km.
| Stay | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 솔게스트하우스 정동진점 | Guesthouse | 85 m | About 1 min walk |
| 호텔탑스빌 | Hotel | 759 m | About 9 min walk |
Distances are straight-line distances, so the actual route may be longer; walking times assume 80 m per minute. Select a stay to open its page (in Korean) with check-in times and nearby restaurants and cafés. Property names are shown as officially registered in Korean.
Where can I eat or get coffee near Jeongdongjin Station?
Short answer: 5 restaurants between 28 m and 68 m, listed from the closest.
| Restaurant | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 포장마차분식 | Bunsik (Korean snacks) | 28 m | About 1 min walk |
| 시카고떡볶이 | Bunsik (Korean snacks) | 30 m | About 1 min walk |
| 정동진해물탕 | Korean | 41 m | About 1 min walk |
| 관제탑해물탕 | Korean | 49 m | About 1 min walk |
| 일출식당 | Korean | 68 m | About 1 min walk |
Select a name to open its page on our restaurant or café guide (in Korean). The small dots on the map also show nearby places that are not in the tables.
See it on the map
The large purple pin is Jeongdongjin Station. Tap a pin to see its name and distance.
What else is there to see near Jeongdongjin Station?
Short answer: The closest is Jeongdongjin Beach (about 1 min walk), and there are 5 attractions within 4 km.
| Attraction | Type | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeongdongjin Beach | Beach | 0 m | About 1 min walk |
| Moraesigye (Hourglass) Park | Park | 671 m | About 8 min walk |
| Deungmyeong Beach | Swimming beach | 2.0 km | About 2.0 km (straight line) |
| Haslla Art World | Sculpture park, art museum | 2.6 km | About 2.6 km (straight line) |
| Deungmyeong Nakgasa Temple | Buddhist temple | 3.2 km | About 3.2 km (straight line) |
Who is Jeongdongjin Station good for?
- Anyone who wants to see a railway station right by the sea
- Those planning a sunrise train and the sunrise together
- Anyone continuing on to Jeongdongjin Beach and Moraesigye Park
Check before you go
- Check train times with Korail
- The official data gives no admission fee, so check on site
Checklist
- Check train times
- Check the sunrise time
- Pick nearby restaurants and cafés on the map in advance
Photos of Jeongdongjin Station
Frequently asked questions
Why is Jeongdongjin Station famous?
It is introduced as the station closest to the sea in Korea, and after it became the setting of the 1995 drama Sandglass, it became known as a sunrise spot.
Where does the name Jeongdongjin come from?
From its position due east of Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace.
What is there to see near the station?
Jeongdongjin Beach, the black pine known as the Sandglass Tree, and the Jeongdongjin poetry monument are nearby.
Where is the closest place to stay near Jeongdongjin Station?
Guesthouse 솔게스트하우스 정동진점 is the closest (about 1 min walk). Its page, in Korean, shows the check-in time and nearby restaurants and cafés.
Things to do in Gangneung
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Sources
- Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI, Korean-language tourist information (attraction details) · Korea Tourism Organization · accessed 2026-10-23 (Korean-language source)
Fees, hours and closing days can change. Please check with the site before you visit.