Despite COVID-19 Impact, Gangwon East Coast Sea Sunrise Spots Crowded

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae]Although all New Year's sunrise events on the East Coast of Gangwon have been canceled due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, visitors to see the sunrise continue to come. It is difficult to find vacant rooms in large accommodations, train tickets are sold out, and car campers and campers have already taken their spots along the seaside.

On the 31st, the room reservation rates at large accommodations near popular sunrise spots on the East Coast were mostly "fully booked." One large resort had all 700 rooms reserved not only for today but also for tomorrow. Another resort with about 200 rooms had no vacancies today.

A representative of a large hotel said, "Last year, room reservations were restricted, but this year there are no restrictions. Considering that it recently snowed on the East Coast and that this is a season when many tourists usually visit, the reservation rate has increased compared to last year," but refrained from elaborating further.

The representative also indirectly explained that business conditions have improved by saying, "At the beginning of this year, due to financial difficulties, we received employment retention subsidies and some employees took leave, but we have no plans to do so in the new year."

As of 4:30 p.m. on this day, KTX tickets to Gangneung departing from Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station were also sold out.

Not only the parking lots near Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung but also the roads with ocean views are already crowded with car campers and camping cars, making it difficult to find empty spaces.

Traffic congestion and slow-moving sections are increasing, such as near Naechon about 7 km in the Yangyang direction on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway and between Manjong Junction in the Gangneung direction and Wonju about 9 km on the Yeongdong Expressway, where cars are crawling.

According to the Gangwon Headquarters of the Korea Expressway Corporation, the average daily highway traffic volume is expected to be 322,000 vehicles from this day until February next year.

In particular, on New Year's Day, 356,000 vehicles are expected, which is a 20.6% increase compared to last year's maximum sunrise traffic volume of 295,000 vehicles.

The maximum expected travel time from Seoul to the East Coast during this sunrise period is 4 hours from Seoul to Gangneung and 3 hours 20 minutes from Seoul to Yangyang, which is expected to increase by about 1 to 1.5 hours compared to last year.

In response, the Expressway Corporation and the Gangwon Police Agency will implement communication measures such as traffic congestion and safety management and prompt traffic information provision.

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