A naturally formed candlestick-shaped sea stack rising from the waters off Donghae, Gangwon-do — one of Korea's most iconic sunrise spots. A lone pine crowns the pillar, keeping watch with the 'Grandmother Rock'; it appears as the backdrop of the first line of Korea's national anthem and lives in the shared memory of countless Koreans.
Golden Hour Calculator · Light Tool
Based on today's sunset, we suggest arriving about 60 minutes earlier to catch both the softest diffuse light and the blue-hour seascape.
The rock faces due east; soft front-light is best from early morning to noon. On peak summer weekends, allow extra time to avoid the crowds.
🌊 Sea Glare correction: Chuam faces the east sea, so at dawn the pillar is back-lit in silhouette while the sea glows gold-red; from morning to noon it turns front-lit and the rock and pine detail are clearest — the golden window to frame 'candle – pine – sea' together.
清晨背光 · 15:00 后顺光金波 · 蓝调收束
Suggested arrival
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Blue hour
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A few numbers to understand this candlestick-shaped sea stack above the East Sea.
Pillar height / Height
about 10 m
The rock rises about 10 m from the sea, crowned by a sturdy red pine — like a giant candlestick planted in the East Sea. It is one of Korea's most photogenic sea stacks.
Sunrise / Sunrise
Sea sunrise
Facing the open east sea, it is a representative Gangwon 'sun-greeting' (해맞이) spot; every New Year's dawn crowds come to welcome the first light.
Anthem / Anthem
Aegukga backdrop
Chuam Chotdaebawi is the seaside backdrop of the first line of Korea's national anthem, 'Dong-hae mul-gwa Baek-du-san-i' — a symbol beyond scenery, written into national memory.
Admission / Admission
0 KRW
A public seaside area, free and open long-term, no ticket or reservation; public parking and a sea-view walkway are provided.
Location / Location
37°28′N, 129°10′E
Plus Code: F5H6+P2 Donghae. At the north end of Chuam Beach, next to Chuam Suspension Bridge and Grandmother Rock.
Nearby / Nearby
Chuam Bridge
The Chuam Suspension Bridge (출렁다리), about 72 m long, opened in 2024 across the sea, linking the rock, Grandmother Rock and the coastal trail into one popular route.
Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock (추암 촛대바위) sits at the north end of Chuam Beach, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do — a naturally formed sea stack rising about 10 m from the sea and crowned by a red pine. 'Chotdaebawi' means 'candlestick stone', named for its resemblance to a giant candlestick planted in the sea. Beside it stand a dozen other fantastically shaped rocks, and across the water the 'Grandmother Rock' (해안정) keeps watch. More importantly, it holds a rare public narrative: how a lone sea rock became the seaside backdrop of the first line of Korea's national anthem, 'Dong-hae mul-gwa Baek-du-san-i', and how it carries a city and a nation's sunrise ritual and collective memory.
Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock lies at Chuam Beach, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do — a city sea-rock coast grown from a former fishing-port shore, maintained as public space by Donghae City and the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. It has long been an open place for citizens' strolls, travelers' sea views and New Year's first light, and is one of Donghae's 'rock and sea' city cards.
Put the fishing-port past, anthem backdrop, sunrise ritual and watch legend on one timeline to truly understand why this rock is more than 'pretty stone'.
'Chuam (추암)' combines 'chu (杻, reef / cape)' and 'am (岩, rock)', originally referring to a reef cape on the Donghae coast. Before becoming a famous rock coast, it was an ordinary fishing-village shore with boats and sea breeze; as Donghae grew from a fishing port into a tourist city, this sea stack was gradually brought into the shared view of citizens and travelers.
As the name suggests, Chotdaebawi is 'the candlestick stone'. It rises about 10 m from the sea, crowned by a sturdy red pine, like a giant candlestick planted in the East Sea waiting to be lit. The name hides both the geographical gene of a reef cape and a city character that faces the sea and keeps silent watch.
Donghae has long been a port city of Gangwon facing the East Sea (Sea of Japan); catch and shipping were once its most vivid colors. The Chuam area next to the harbor was a vibrant front of fishery and shipping; now famous for sea rocks, sunrise and coastline, the fishing DNA still faintly settles in the sea breeze.
Chuam Chotdaebawi's most widely known identity is as the seaside backdrop of the first line of Korea's national anthem, 'Dong-hae mul-gwa Baek-du-san-i' (East Sea water and Baekdu Mountain). When the camera sweeps across the candle rock and pine on the sea, this East Sea imagery was written into the first lesson of national awakening — making a sea rock transcend scenery into a footnote of national memory.
The open due-east sea makes Chuam a representative Gangwon 'sun-greeting' (해맞이) spot. Every New Year's dawn, crowds brave the cold to welcome the year's first sunlight, entrusting wishes for the new year to the red light rising above the horizon. This ritual lets a lone sea rock carry collective emotional memory.
Across the water from Chotdaebawi stands the 'Grandmother Rock' (해안정, also called 할머니바위 / Grandmother Rock), with a touching legend: a wife stood by the sea day after day gazing at her husband who sailed out and never returned, finally turning into a great rock in the sea. The composition of Chotdaebawi and Grandmother Rock facing each other is the most direct footnote to this legend, adding a gentle human warmth to Chuam.
The Chuam Suspension Bridge (출렁다리), about 72 m long, opened in 2024 across the sea, swaying gently with the waves like a ribbon floating above the East Sea. It weaves the candle rock, Grandmother Rock and coastal trail into one walking experience — Donghae's most recognizable recent landmark, completing the 'view the rock from the bridge' angle.
The most common impression among visitors is Chuam as 'a candle flame above the East Sea'. In fact, its charm is not only good looks, but that a lone sea rock holds together national-anthem memory, sunrise ritual, watch legend and citizens' everyday sea breeze — Chuam is remembered precisely because it writes the East Sea's most typical 'rock and sea' into one coastline.
Chuam is not just a rock, but the seaside backdrop of Korea's national anthem, 'Dong-hae mul-gwa Baek-du-san-i' — from the New Year sun-greeting ritual to the national-anthem memory, sea and nation are written into one shared public memory here.
What's worth reading slowly on site is often not the photo badge, but the official signs explaining 'why this rock is here'.
The readings below are based on Donghae City's Chuam coast introductions, ecology notes and Chuam Bridge guide, turning information visible on site but not always read closely into understandable English.
추암 촛대바위 안전 안내
Chuam Chotdaebawi safety guide
📍 现场位置 · Both sides of the rock-view walkway entrance
These signs give the key safety info: tide and surf warnings, no-climbing notices, and slippery-reef warnings at high/low tide. Reading the signs is lesson one in using this public coast.
추암 해변 · 바다 조망
Chuam coast · sea view
📍 现场位置 · North rock-view area
The signs stress Chuam's status as a representative East Sea rock coast, and remind visitors that half the beauty is the rock, half is the real sea in front. The tidal flat at low tide is the best window to observe shellfish and shorebirds.
추암 출렁다리 · 해안 산책로
Chuam Bridge · coastal trail
📍 现场位置 · Bridge entrance
The guide explains 'how to use this coast without disturbing it'. The bridge builds the ritual of viewing the rock from above; the trail guides flow on safe paths; the coast handles water contact and rest — together the design logic of Chuam becomes clear.
애국가 촬영 배경지
National anthem filming backdrop
📍 现场位置 · By the rock-view platform
Erected by Donghae City, marking Chuam Chotdaebawi as the seaside backdrop of the first line of Korea's national anthem. It reminds every visitor: the sea at your feet is the most direct picture of 'East Sea water' in national memory.
Dig one layer below the surface 'good looks' to find what is truly rare here: a sea stack, a piece of national memory, and an open-air coastal classroom at once.
A public sea rock built on a cape
The hardest part of Chuam is both visible and invisible. Visible is the candle rock and sea horizon; invisible are the tides, sea erosion and tidal flat that sustain the coastal ecosystem. Visitors see scenery; geologists see a coastal system still running.
Cultural symbol of the Chuam coast
The sea sunrise, the anthem backdrop and the Grandmother Rock legend, together with the sea candle rock, form Chuam's identity system: instantly readable as belonging to the East Sea, to the nation, and to a gentle, restrained coastal aesthetics. From a lone sea rock to national memory, this contrast makes it one of Donghae's most memorable cultural images.
What's most worth learning about Chuam is not 'it got pretty', but how a public sea stack was brought back into the city's public life while keeping its past.
Chuam is not a 'hide the coast and done' case, but a sample that continuously activates the coast through public-space design and turns it into a shared place.
The boardwalk, safety system and signs are not just guides, but let every visitor, while using the space, take part in respect for the ocean and others.
Chuam did not erase the fishing-port past, but through the rock, anthem backdrop and signs lets the public, while viewing, realize what this land has gone through.
Not just 'you'll like it', but directly telling you how to go, where to start, and which Donghae nodes to link.
共鸣点：Free, open, safe soft sand; kids can wade and watch the sea, and easily walk Chuam Bridge from the gentle side.
建议：Save energy for the top viewpoint rather than spending it on steep slopes.
共鸣点：Dawn sunrise and the sea candle rock are Donghae's most romantic frames, very photogenic.
建议：Count arrival, return and light into your plan so the frame doesn't lose to on-site pace.
共鸣点：As a coastal ecology sample, tides and tidal flats are worth a close look.
建议：Avoid the most crowded weekends; choose dawn or weekday afternoons to truly observe coastal details.
共鸣点：Without going far to the countryside, you can observe the sea stack, anthem memory and public coast in Donghae city, and link trains, buses and local food — an ideal starting point to understand Donghae's urban transformation.
建议：If you can only pick one Donghae coast landmark, Chuam is the best first stop for the 'rock and sea' theme.
Combine arriving in Donghae, city transfers, walking/cycling, parking and charging into one clear structure for planning your Chuam trip.
Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock is at the north end of Chuam Beach, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, next to Donghae Station and Chuam Station — a representative coastal wonder of Donghae. The easiest long-distance option is KTX to Donghae Station from Seoul (~2.5 h), or transfers from Seoul or Gangneung; once in the city, the rock is about a 15 min drive from Donghae Station. Chuam is an open public coast; from Chuam Station it is about a 5 min walk to the rock-view walkway.
Chuam is open coast with no gate. Plan transport, parking and walking together — especially with seniors, children or luggage, parking at a public lot then walking in saves a lot of hassle.
Train (KTX / Donghae Station)
Easiest for most long-distance travelers; KTX / trains from Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu and Gangneung reach Donghae Station directly.
Public transit (express / intercity bus)
Easiest for most travelers; Seoul, Gangneung and Wonju have direct express / intercity buses to Donghae.
Chuam Station (5 min walk)
Chuam Station is the closest station to the rock; a 5 min walk from the platform reaches the rock-view walkway — ideal for light packers who want to see it first.
Driving (parking / charging)
Good with children, seniors, lots of luggage or a Gangwon tour; several public lots surround the coast.
Taxi / ride-hail
Easiest with luggage, children/seniors or early / late arrivals.
Cycling / walking
The most relaxing way to feel Donghae's coast and city.
Walking (neighborhood roam)
If already in Donghae or near the coast, walking is the natural way to observe the coast-city transition.
Several public parking lots surround Chuam; below are the nearest main options. Rates and availability vary by season and time — follow on-site signs (2024 basis: small car about 1,000 KRW / hour, daily cap about 5,000 KRW).
| Option | Distance | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chuam Beach public parking | about 100–300 m (to rock walkway) | Public paid, lower rate, fills in peak |
| Chuam Bridge parking | about 300–500 m | Park annex parking, more spaces but tight in peak |
| Surrounding street parking | about 200–500 m | Roadside / small lots, few spaces, easier off-peak |
| Donghae city parking | about 1.5–2.5 km | City / mall parking, tight on holidays |
| Drop-off (coast entrance) | about 100 m | Short stop only, no spaces |
Coast roads are extremely congested on holidays and peak season; do not block bus and fire lanes. EV chargers are common at seaside public lots and Chuam Bridge parking; rates and limits may change — check posted signs.
Chuam is accessible all day, but the photo ceiling is the dawn sunrise window. Arrive about 30–60 min before sunrise; if weather is poor for the sea, shift focus to Chuam Bridge, Donghae city food or nearby Gangneung / Samcheok coastline.
Several public lots surround the coast, such as Chuam Beach public parking and Chuam Bridge parking, within walking distance. They fill fast on peak weekends — arrive early or park further out and walk the last stretch.
Chuam Beach public parking is about 100–300 m away, the closest to the rock walkway; Chuam Bridge parking is about 300–500 m, more spaces but tight in peak.
Very little. Coast roads are narrow and congested on holidays; use proper lots and public transit, no long roadside parking.
Unless parking is essential, driving is not advised. Weekends and peak season are very congested; walking or transit is smoother. If driving, park at a surrounding lot then walk in.
Strongly. Take KTX / express bus to Donghae, then city bus or taxi to Chuam and walk in. Address: 28 Chotdaebawi-gil, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea.
For stability and ease, transit is still best: KTX / express bus to Donghae, transfer to the coast then walk in. If you must drive, treat parking and transfer as part of the trip, not 'park at the door'.
Not just 'who it suits', but a walkable half-day route. Centered on Chotdaebawi, it links Chuam Bridge, Grandmother Rock and Chuam Beach.
[Start] Chuam Beach stroll & wading
Coast · ~40 min
Gather supplies and use the restroom on the soft sand, stroll and wade along the Chuam coast, leaving the soft morning light for the sea and distant hills.
[Main] Chotdaebawi & Grandmother Rock
Core experience · ~40 min
Walk the trail to the best rock viewpoint, look up at the candle rock crowned by a lone pine, and frame it with the facing Grandmother Rock — reading the century-old legend of watchful waiting.
[Extend] Chuam Suspension Bridge (출렁다리)
Sea trail · ~30 min
Walk to the 2024 Chuam Suspension Bridge and look down at the candle rock and open East Sea from the 72 m swinging sea trail.
[Refuel] Donghae city food
Food stop · ~50 min
Leave the coast for Donghae city to taste Gangwon seafood, squid and local snacks, linking the coast trip to local flavors.
[End] Sunset or return
Wrap · ~60 min+
If time allows, return to Chuam at dusk for the coast lights, or take a bus / taxi back, wrapping this into a complete 'rock + bridge + food' half-day package.
The route emphasizes a closed loop that 'works even if you just follow it'; if you only want the rock, keep the first two segments and treat food and night view as flexible add-ons.
The hard part of Chuam is not finding the way, but remembering 'this is a public coast shared with the sea'. Think about tides, wind and rock safety, and the experience upgrades from 'rushing check-ins' to 'relaxed play'.
Water safety
Watch the surf
The pillar stands in the sea with strong currents and slippery reefs nearby; do not climb the rock or enter the water — view from the walkway and safe zones.
Sun & wind
Strong UV
Coastal UV is strong and sea breeze hides dehydration; reapply sunscreen, wear a hat and drink water on long exposures.
Families & seniors
Keep it gentle
Chuam Beach has soft, gently sloped sand suited to family wading, but reefs are slippery — watch children and avoid wet rocks at high tide.
No. Chotdaebawi is a protected sea stack surrounded by sea and reef; climbing, carving or crossing rails is strictly forbidden. Best view is from the shore walkway, Chuam Bridge or the Grandmother Rock observatory.
Reefs below the pillar are slippery with hidden currents even when calm; the Chuam Suspension Bridge is a swinging sea bridge — hold the handrail, do not run or shake it, and follow on-site guidance.
No. Open fires and private fireworks are strictly prohibited on the public coast; enjoy the sunrise and night view in designated areas and follow staff instructions.
This is both a visitor's coast and the citizens' daily seaside stroll. Following these rules is respect for both people and the ocean.
Coastal bins are limited and sea wind scatters litter; bring a small bag and take everything away, especially cigarette butts, plastics and food waste.
Many come specifically for sunrise and the sea rock; lower your voice and don't blast music, leaving the calm to the sea and sky.
Dry sand and vegetation are flammable; the whole area is smoke-free and open flames are banned, especially on wooden structures like the Chuam Bridge.
Do not dig up or take sand and shells, and do not disturb shorebirds and tidal creatures; leaving the coast as it is is the most basic respect for the ocean.
Donghae is a port city where 'sea and city connect'. We don't recommend specific hotels, but help you analyze two lodging patterns to choose what suits you.
Best for coast & bridge
Staying at Chuam or Chuam Beach, you walk to the sea candle rock, Chuam Bridge and coastal night views; the night sea breeze and lights suit travelers. Best for those focused on 'rock stroll + coast' with high convenience needs.
Commute: about 5–15 min walk to the coast, about 5–10 min to Chuam Bridge. Low demand on legs, good for late-night coast walks.
Best for food & transit
Staying in Donghae city or the seafood street, next to the train station, express bus terminal and food streets, best for those focused on 'eat & stroll + transfer', then take bus / taxi to Chuam by day.
Commute: about 15 min by city bus or taxi to Chuam. Good for drivers or independent travelers wanting absolute convenience.
In Donghae's summer (especially the sunrise peak) and holidays, rooms tighten and prices rise noticeably. Book several weeks ahead; if booking near a holiday, widen the range to Gangneung, Samcheok and other surrounding areas, then take the train.
28 Chotdaebawi-gil, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea (Plus Code: F5H6+P2)
Practical information about Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock's facilities, history and visit planning.
Several public lots surround the coast, such as Chuam Beach public parking and Chuam Bridge parking, within walking distance. Public paid rates vary by season (2024 basis: small car about 1,000 KRW / hour, daily cap about 5,000 KRW); they fill fast on peak weekends — arrive early or prefer transit.
The north section of Chuam Beach and the rock-view walkway are gently sloped with boardwalks and accessible ramps; wheelchairs and strollers can reach the rock area fairly easily, but sand still resists wheels — use boardwalks and hard surfaces.
Public restrooms are at the coast entrance and park; dining and convenience stores cluster in Donghae city — stock up on water and food at the entrance or in the city before entering the coast.
EV chargers are at the coast-side public lots and Chuam Bridge parking; conventional gas stations line Donghae city center and main roads, handy for drivers to refuel on the way in.
'Chotdaebawi (촛대바위)' means 'candlestick stone', named for its resemblance to a giant candlestick planted in the sea. It rises about 10 m from the sea, crowned by a red pine, facing the open east sea — the place where the first morning light is welcomed since ancient times; the name hides the reef-cape gene and a character that faces the sea and keeps silent watch.
Chuam is not a themed park, but a public coast rock that citizens turned into a landmark holding together national-anthem memory, sunrise ritual, watch legend and everyday sea breeze. The sea candle rock, Chuam Bridge and Grandmother Rock form a low-impact, high-empathy design and one of Donghae's 'rock and sea' city cards.
Chuam is an open public coast, free long-term, the public area accessible 24 hours, no gate, no ticket or reservation — visit anytime (respect residents' rest, avoid late-night noise).
A relaxed visit is about 1–2 hours (including rock viewing and photo stops); if you add Chuam Bridge, Grandmother Rock and Donghae seafood street, reserve a half day.
Yes — it is an open coast, accessible in any weather. But no entering the sea during typhoons, high surf or thunderstorms; reefs are slippery and visibility low, wear non-slip shoes and watch weather; avoid the rock base and coastal steps in bad weather.
From Chuam you can link Chuam Bridge (출렁다리, swinging sea trail), Grandmother Rock (해안정, watch legend), Donghae seafood street (squid and local food), Samcheok coastal rail trail (해안트레일) and Gangneung Gyeongpo Beach, forming a Donghae 'rock – bridge – food – coastline' half-day route.
As Donghae's most recognizable coastal sea rock, a few structured spots and times greatly improve your photos' usefulness and beauty.
📍 Due-east open coast section
At dawn the due-east sea is dyed gold-red by the sunrise — Chuam's classic 'sun-greeting' composition, the candle rock outlined in back-light.
📍 출렁다리 trail
Shoot the candle rock + Grandmother Rock + East Sea together from below or the top of the bridge — Chuam's most recognizable spot.
📍 North rock-view area
Blue hour (20–30 min after sunset) balances sky and sea best — the strongest mood window.
📍 South coast / bridge
At night the coast lights up and the sea mirrors the river of lights — good for a closing long-exposure night shot.
From the sea candle rock, due-east sunrise, Chuam Bridge to the Grandmother Rock legend — the visual beauty of Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock.
Visitor Quotes
“Walking east along the coast, the candle rock crowned by a lone pine stands in the sea; the dawn sunrise dyes the whole sea gold — so healing.”
“A sea rock facing the ocean, free and easy to stroll — Donghae's gentlest coastal corner.”
“With kids slowly along the gentle sand, Chuam Bridge surprised the little ones and was easy for seniors too.”
Visitor feedback is available on Google Maps (external link).
Visited at dawn; the sunrise on the rock is super photogenic, and the moment overlooking the whole coast from Chuam Bridge was silent — strongly recommend sunrise, best light.
The pillar-and-pine composition is stunning; entering from the gentle side is family-friendly, coastal wind is strong so bring a jacket.
Worth it as a free public coast; summer gets crowded, weekdays or early morning are more comfortable.
About a 5 min walk from the coast to Chuam Bridge; the coast along the way is pleasant, good for a half-day stroll.