'Samcheok Marine Rail Bike' Marks 15th Anniversary, Surpasses 5.28 Million Visitors

Samcheok City Establishes Itself
as a Leading Tourism Product
on the East Coast of Gangwon Province

The Samcheok Marine Rail Bike, a representative tourist attraction in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

Samcheok Marine Rail Bike. Provided by Samcheok City

Having opened on July 20, 2010, the Samcheok Marine Rail Bike surpassed a cumulative total of 5.28 million visitors as of October 2025, firmly establishing itself as a leading tourism product on the East Coast of Gangwon Province.

The Samcheok Marine Rail Bike operates on a 5.4-kilometer double-track route from Gungchon-ri to Yonghwa-ri in Geundeok-myeon, utilizing a railway line whose construction began during the Japanese colonial period but was never completed. It is the only course in Korea where visitors can simultaneously enjoy views of the sea and a pine forest. For about one hour, riders are treated to breathtaking scenery along the blue East Sea coastline, a dense black pine forest, and a unique experience passing through three tunnels featuring luminaire and laser shows.

In its opening year, from July 2010, the attraction drew over 100,000 riders within just three months, quickly gaining popularity. It continued to grow steadily, reaching 500,000 visitors in its first year in 2011, 1 million in two years by 2012, and 2 million in five years by 2015. By the end of September 2024, the cumulative number of visitors had reached 5 million. The site attracts an average of about 400,000 tourists annually, generating billions of won in annual revenue as a single tourist destination and making a significant contribution to Samcheok City's tax revenue.

Currently, the rail bike operates five times a day (9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.), with online reservations available through the official website. The fare is 25,000 won for a two-seater and 35,000 won for a four-seater.

Samcheok City is continuously seeking ways to enhance tourism competitiveness by linking the Marine Rail Bike with nearby attractions such as the Marine Cable Car, Yonggul Chotdae Rock Trail, and Haesindang Park. With the opening of the Samcheok-Pohang railway in January 2025, there has been a significant increase in tourists from the Busan and Yeongnam regions, and continued growth is expected in the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.