“Goodbye~ Summer Sea!”, See You Again Next Year! ... Gyeongbuk Welcomes 530,000 Vacationers

On the 21st, East Coast Beaches of Gyeongbuk Closed Simultaneously

View of Wolpo Beach in Pohang.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The 23 beaches along the East Coast of Gyeongbuk, which opened on July 9, closed on the 21st of last month after 44 days of operation.

Although social distancing was lifted in April, Gyeongbuk Province thoroughly managed quarantine measures such as periodic ventilation and disinfection of indoor multi-use facilities, considering concerns about the spread of COVID-19 infections at the beaches. They also selected five less crowded beaches to allow visitors to enjoy swimming with peace of mind.

In addition, safety management personnel and lifesaving equipment were secured at each beach, multi-use facilities were regularly inspected, and the sandy beaches were maintained using beach cleaners to minimize inconveniences for vacationers.

This year, about 530,000 visitors came to the Gyeongbuk East Coast beaches, a 29% increase compared to about 410,000 visitors last year.

This is interpreted as a strong response from tourists due to the resumption of various experience events and festivals that could not be held because of COVID-19.

At Wolpo Beach in Pohang, which attracted the most visitors with over 120,000 people, the Wolpo Huritgeumul Experience event was held, allowing tourists to try barehanded fishing using the traditional fishing method called Huritgeumul, capturing the hearts of visitors.

At Guryongpo Beach, various programs such as a beach song festival and a barehanded squid catching event heated up the festive atmosphere.

At Dogu Beach, about 2 tons of silk clams were released into the sea, offering a barehanded clam digging experience that anyone could enjoy, providing a joyful experience.

In Gyeongju, a midsummer night music festival was held at Oryu Beach, where visitors could enjoy the cool sea breeze and the romance of summer nights, delighting their eyes and ears and comforting those tired from COVID-19 and the heat.

At Jangsa Beach in Yeongdeok, a weekend beach festival was held, providing free food such as chicken, beer, and barbecue to visitors, along with family-friendly programs like treasure hunts and balloon popping games, adding to the fun.

In Uljin, along with the completion ceremony of Hupo Marina, the 14th Korea Cup International Yacht Race was held. During the event, visitors enjoyed yacht boarding experiences, marine and yacht-related exhibitions, remote-controlled yacht competitions, and booths for local draft beer and Makgeolli tastings, offering thrilling sights and entertainment to tourists visiting the beaches.

After the beach closures, Gyeongbuk Province plans to deploy safety personnel and post banners prohibiting entry to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of tourists visiting the resorts.

Next year, Pohang Heunghwan Beach and Uljin Gusan Beach will be designated as pet-friendly beaches to welcome pet families aiming to create good memories during the vacation season with their companion animals.

Additionally, in line with recent trends such as car camping and camping, local beaches will be specialized through campgrounds to develop them as year-round tourism and leisure resources where visitors can rest, heal, and create precious memories.

Starting next year, considering the increase in people visiting beaches at night to avoid heatwaves, night openings allowing swimming at beaches such as Yeongildae Beach will also be considered.

Kim Seonghak, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of the province, said, “We thank the vacationers and beach officials who cooperated in following quarantine and safety rules. Next year, we will maintain convenience facilities and develop various experience programs to ensure that beaches in the province become optimal resting places.”

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