Catch Two Rabbits! ... Ensuring Citizen Safety and Providing Rest Areas
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Busan City has completed the ‘Busan Nanhang Floodgate (Disaster Prevention Seawall) Maintenance Project’ aimed at preventing disasters in the frequently flooded areas around Namhang Seogu district, and will temporarily open the waterfront facility (tentatively named Nanhang Sports Plaza) within the buffer zone starting in July.
This project involves constructing a 43m wide and 500m long disaster prevention seawall across the entire sea area from Busan Nanhang West Breakwater to Songdo Haesupia, an area including Seogu Nambumin-dong Lighthouse, which has repeatedly suffered flooding damage due to wave overtopping during typhoons.
In 2016, the project was incorporated into the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ 3rd Basic Port Plan (Revised Plan), and in 2017, the Busan Port Construction Office conducted the basic and detailed design. Subsequently, Busan City, the management authority of Busan Nanhang, received full national funding of 46.2 billion KRW from 2018 to carry out the construction, which was completed in May this year before the typhoon season.
Through this project, the city secured approximately 16,600㎡ (5,030 pyeong) of land within the buffer zone, where various convenience facilities such as a stadium, exercise equipment, and shade structures were installed. On top of the seawall, a coastal promenade offering panoramic views of the old downtown and Busan Nanhang was created, transforming it into a citizen-friendly waterfront space.
This seawall will not only prevent disasters caused by typhoons and other events to ensure citizen safety but is also expected to serve as a leisure space providing rest for nearby residents.
Additionally, an intelligent video surveillance system (CCTV) has been installed within the seawall to actively prevent safety accidents in hazardous areas such as the tetrapods.
Kim Yujin, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Busan City, stated, “With global warming causing sea level rise and abnormal waves such as typhoons and tsunamis, it is necessary to build safe ports. We will continue to establish disaster prevention facilities in response to climate and environmental changes from a regional perspective and expand marine waterfront spaces to create safe and citizen-friendly ports.”
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