Yangyang County to Establish Korea’s First “Salmon Natural Spawning Ground,” Opening New Horizons for Ecotourism

County Invests 28.2 Billion KRW for Year-End Completion
A New Milestone for Salmon Restoration and Ecotourism

Yangyang County in Gangwon Province is set to complete the nation’s first salmon natural spawning ground within this year, marking a new milestone for salmon resource restoration and the revitalization of ecological tourism.

Overall plan of the wild salmon spawning ground. Provided by Yangyang County

On January 27, the county announced that it is accelerating the project with the goal of completing the salmon natural spawning ground by the end of the year. To this end, it has secured an additional 4.5 billion KRW for landscaping in 2026, bringing the total investment to 28.2 billion KRW (8.35 billion KRW from the national government, 2.5 billion KRW from the provincial government, and 17.35 billion KRW from the county budget).

The salmon natural spawning ground project is the first of its kind in Korea, combining ecological conservation and tourism. It covers a 58,152-square-meter area along the Namdaecheon River in Songhyeon-ri, Sonyang-myeon, Yangyang, and aims to proactively address the decline in returning salmon populations.

The core of the project is to move away from the traditional method of artificially hatching salmon and instead build ecological infrastructure that encourages natural salmon spawning. For this purpose, a natural spawning channel measuring 500 meters in length, 2.2 to 4 meters in width, and 0.7 meters in depth will be constructed, allowing visitors to directly observe and experience the entire salmon migration process.

In December of last year, the county completed major processes such as the construction of the salmon spawning channel, civil engineering, machinery, and water intake facilities. This year, using the additional budget, Yangyang County plans to push forward with landscaping and planting, the installation of an underground salmon observation center and observation deck, the creation of educational and rest areas, as well as expanding playgrounds for children and convenience facilities for tourists.

In particular, the landscaping project will apply eco-friendly designs tailored to the salmon spawning environment to enhance the overall landscape and focus on creating stay-type spaces for families and experiential visitors.

Once completed, the project is expected to move away from the artificial method of capturing salmon for egg extraction and hatching, and instead increase salmon survival and return rates through natural spawning.

Additionally, by utilizing the Namdaecheon natural channel, the facility will be operated so that visitors can observe not only salmon but also various local fish species such as hwang-eo (golden mandarin fish) in spring and sweetfish in summer. The aim is to foster the area as a leading hub for ecological tourism, integrating ecological restoration, learning, and tourism along Namdaecheon.

Salmon natural spawning ground cross-section. Provided by Yangyang County

The county plans to complete the project in December 2026 and then entrust systematic operations to the East Sea Life Resources Center of the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, a specialized salmon research institution.

An official from Yangyang County stated, "We will ensure the project is completed without delay within this year so that it becomes a symbolic initiative that not only restores salmon resources but also revitalizes local tourism and provides tangible benefits to the regional economy."

Meanwhile, on January 26, the county conducted a trial run to check water flow from the intake pump station to the hatchery and confirmed that the facility is operating without any issues.

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