Jeonnam Province to Develop Yeosu K-Tourist Site into a Global Hot Spot

25 Trillion KRW Invested:
Smooth Progress in Gyeongdo and Hwayang District Development

Perspective view of the Yeosu Gyeongdo Marine Tourism Complex Hotel. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Yeosu, which has captivated tourists with its romantic busking and night sea, is expected to completely transform into a global hot spot beyond South Korea.

According to Jeollanam-do on the 26th, the Yeosu Gyeongdo Marine Tourism Complex development project is gaining momentum. The construction of the connecting bridge, which had been suspended, has resumed, and the development of accommodation facilities totaling 929 rooms?including a 5-star hotel with 307 rooms, resorts, and villa-type condos?as well as the relocation of an elementary school and the creation of leisure infrastructure with an investment of 1.5 trillion KRW, are all progressing smoothly.

The target completion date for the tourism complex project invested by the Mirae Asset consortium is 2029.

The elementary school previously located on the site for the new accommodation facilities has completed its relocation, and classes will begin in the new building from the second semester in September.

With the resumption of the Gyeongdo access road construction in March, which had been halted in July last year due to a change of developer, the Gyeongdo development has gained momentum, currently reaching a 20% completion rate. The 1.35 km, two-lane connecting bridge will require an investment of 134.9 billion KRW.

The hotel to be built in the Gyeongdo Marine Tourism Complex will have 29 floors above ground. As the first global luxury brand in the Honam region, it will include facilities such as a grand ballroom, seminar rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and restaurants.

The hotel design will be selected through an international competition. After incorporating landmark-level design, construction will begin in April 2026 with the goal of opening in 2029. It is expected to not only increase the number of domestic and international tourists visiting Yeosu and the Honam region but also enhance the area's brand value.

Additionally, in the Hwayang district of Yeosu, the world's longest infinity all-season swimming pool, measuring 206 meters, is expected to open in 2027. The development of the core facility of the Hwayang Integrated Tourism Complex, the 'Hill & Terrace Condo' (rendering), is in full swing. The large-scale tourism complex, located on a 6.43 km² site in Jangsu-ri, Hwayang-myeon, Yeosu, will feature a golf course, hotel, condo, and cultural facilities, with an investment of approximately 1.0524 trillion KRW.

The Hill & Terrace Condo will have six basement floors and ten above ground, offering 274 rooms and convention facilities accommodating up to 500 people. The project developer, HJ The Ocean Resort Co., Ltd., completed the detailed design and obtained construction permits in November last year, and has since started construction.

Located directly in front of Hwayang Jangdeung Beach, it offers optimal conditions in connection with the currently operating golf course. The nearby The Ocean CC (18 holes) will be expanded to 27 holes to meet international standards, with plans to host Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) tournaments and attract more tourists.

Once the condo and the world’s longest infinity pool open, it is expected to not only increase domestic tourist numbers to Honam and Yeosu but also contribute to the rise of the area's glocal brand value.

With differentiated development of tourism infrastructure in Gyeongdo and Hwayang districts on two tracks, Yeosu is expected to completely transform into a leading K-tourism destination in South Korea.

An official from Jeollanam-do stated, "If the development of Yeosu Gyeongdo becomes a new tourism content for the eastern region, the Hwayang district development will be a core project to establish itself as a hub for marine tourism in Northeast Asia."

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