The Rash Guard Mystery: Why Koreans Dress Like Navy SEALs at the Beach

In America or Europe, going to the beach means one thing: Getting a tan. You wear the smallest bikini or swim trunks you own, lie on a towel, and bake until you look like a golden toast.

So, when I went to Haeundae Beach (Busan) for the first time, I was ready for my Baywatch moment. I arrived in my favorite bikini. I looked around. And I froze.

Nobody was naked. Everyone—men, women, children—was covered from neck to toe in tight, long-sleeved neon shirts. They looked like they were training for a Navy SEAL underwater mission.

Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you why I was the only “peeled potato” on the beach, and the magic of ordering fried chicken to your umbrella.

The “Idiot” Archives: The Naked Potato

Flashback: 3 years ago. Haeundae Beach, Busan.

I walked onto the sand. I laid out my towel. I took off my cover-up. Suddenly, I felt 1,000 eyes on me. It wasn’t because I looked hot. It was because I looked wrong.

While I was wearing 5% fabric, everyone else was wearing 95% fabric. They were wearing Rash Guards (long-sleeved swim shirts), leggings, water shoes, and giant hats. I felt incredibly exposed. An Ajumma walked past me, pointed at my stomach, and clicked her tongue. I spent the next 4 hours wrapped in my towel, sweating and confused.

Enter “Ssam” (The Sun Hater)

I asked Ssam later, while applying aloe to my sunburn. “Ssam, are Koreans allergic to water? Why is everyone dressed like a superhero?”

Ssam laughed at my red shoulders. “Alice, in Korea, the Sun is not a friend. It is the Enemy.”

He explained the Two Reasons for the Rash Guard:

The Sun Phobia: Koreans value pale, porcelain skin. Getting a tan is seen as skin damage and aging. UV rays are the devil.
The Modesty: Unlike the West, showing too much chest or butt is considered a bit “too much” for a family beach. Tight clothes (rash guards) are okay, but bare skin is awkward.

Level 3 Wisdom: How to Beach Like a Korean

Ssam taught me the rules. If you want to blend in and have fun, forget Baywatch.

1. Buy a Rash Guard (Seriously)

Don’t fight it. Join them.

Why: It protects you from the sun, jellyfish, and awkward stares.
Bonus: You don’t have to worry about sucking in your stomach after eating 3 hot dogs.
Alice’s Tip: If you absolutely MUST wear a bikini, go to a hotel pool or a “Surfer Beach” in Yangyang. But at a public family beach? Cover up.

2. The Tube Life (Doong-Doong)

Koreans don’t really “swim” in the ocean. They float. You will see a sea of yellow inflatable tubes.

Rental: You can rent these everywhere for about 10,000 KRW ($8).
The Vibe: Just bob around in the waves (Doong-Doong) like a happy dumpling. It’s relaxing.

3. Delivery to the Sand (The Magic)

This is the best part. You can order Fried Chicken or Pizza directly to your beach parasol.

How: Look for a number tag on your rented parasol (e.g., Zone 3, #15).
Action: Call the number on the flyers dropped by delivery guys, tell them your parasol number, and boom—Chicken on the beach.
Warning: Watch out for seagulls. They are gangsters.

Alice’s Bottom Line: Cover Up and Eat Up

Korean beach culture is not about being sexy. It’s about being safe from the sun and eating good food. Buy a cool rash guard (they are actually stylish), rent a tube, and order some beach chicken.

Trust me, eating chicken in the ocean while not getting a sunburn? That is the peak of civilization.

Survival Hangul: At the Beach

“튜브 대여 얼마예요? (Tube dae-yeo eolma-yeyo?)”
- Meaning: “How much to rent a tube?”
“파라솔 빌려주세요. (Parasol billyeo-juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “I want to rent a parasol.”
“여기 배달 되나요? (Yeogi baedal doenayo?)”
- Meaning: “Can you deliver here?” (Say this when calling the chicken place).

🔗 Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)

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