ABSTRACT Wu, G.; Liang, B.; Li H.; Lee, D.-Y., and Guo, W., 2017. Determining how offshore shoals control rip current generation in an embayed beach. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 224–228. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. In this study, the generation of rip currents at Haeundae Beach, Korea, is investigated using an advanced, non-hydrostatic wave-resolving model SWASH. It is found that the presence of offshore shoals leads to strong wave refraction, creating significant alongshore wave height variations and mega-scale rip current systems. The modeled rip currents occurring locations correspond well with the low wave height areas. The rip currents persist even if the surf zone rip-channel topography is smoothed, with very similar spatial patterns and occurring locations compared with those generated under the original bathymetry. We argue that the mega-sca...