Surfyy Beach transforms from fishing village to hotspot

[Courtesy of Surfyy Beach]

Located in Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang County, Surfyy Beach offers a plethora of activities from dawn till dusk. Visitors can indulge in yoga on the pristine 12,000㎡ white sand beach, engage in strength training at a nearby gym, or enjoy surfing, tanning, and swimming. The beachfront restaurant serves meals and drinks by day, then transforms into a chic club at night.

Surfyy Beach attracts 2 million visitors annually, 20 percent of whom are foreigners drawn by its Instagram-worthy appeal. The beach’s integration with the local community is a notable feature that has significantly boosted the local economy.

“The annual revenue of nearby guesthouses has skyrocketed to 50 million won ($37,000) from 10 million won,” Surfyy Beach CEO Park Joon-kyu said, emphasizing the collaboration with the region to use local products in everything from food ingredients to juices sold on the beach.

The influx of tourists has encouraged local businesses to set up shop, creating a virtuous cycle of increased attractions and visitors. The beach’s yoga classes have led to the founding of 13 yoga studios in Yangyang, which were previously unseen in the area.

Surfyy Beach exemplifies how local businesses can drive regional economic growth and attract international tourists. Such enterprises are being labeled as “glocal” by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, which launched a project in April 2024 to support them.

“Previously, the government developed large industrial complexes that attracted residential and commercial facilities, followed by small businesses. Now, creative small businesses create attractive local markets that draw new small businesses, increase the population, and generate jobs,” a ministry official said.

Examples of successful glocal businesses include Bonghwangjae, a lodging facility in the old city center of Gongju, Chungnam, and travel startup Puzzle Lab.

“We acquired an old hanok six years ago and began a lodging business. We envisioned encouraging our guests to use surrounding spaces for restaurant, cafe, and business lounge needs,” Puzzle Lab CEO Kwon O-sang said.