Overview
The Okjuk-dong coastal dunes of Daecheongdo are a representative tourist attraction of Daecheongdo and are also nicknamed the 'Okjuk-dong Sand Desert.' Behind Okjuk-dong Beach on the northern side of the island, a vast sand dune stretches about 1.6 km long and 600 m wide, formed by the sand from the seashore being carried and accumulated by winds blowing from the sea to the land. This place evokes an exotic atmosphere, as if you've crash-landed in the desert of the Middle East. Sitting on a dune that seems to touch the sky, watching the sand paint different patterns with the wind, the nickname 'Korea's Sahara Desert' feels vividly real. The sandy desert features camel sculptures and sculptures themed around Saint-Exupéry's novel 'The Little Prince,' making it a popular photo spot set against the desert backdrop. Since ancient times, Daecheongdo has been known as an island with fierce sandstorms, to the extent that there is a saying, "You have to eat horses on the sandy Okjuk-dong to get married." In the past, the area was as vast as 60 soccer fields, but as residents planted pine trees along the coast to create windbreak forests to alleviate the inconvenience caused by sandstorms, the sand dunes have been gradually shrinking. Although the challenge of coexistence between nature and humans remains, the Okjuk-dong coastal dunes remain active dunes that change shape with the seasons, offering visitors to Daecheongdo a unique landscape and experience.