Geochang-gun's Y-Shaped Suspension Bridge Selected as World's Best 'Top' Bridge

International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)

First Selection of Excellent Structures in Korea

Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 22nd that the Y-shaped suspension bridge within the Anti-Aging Healing Land was selected as an excellent structure in the 'Pedestrian Bridge' category among seven categories in the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) review held in Switzerland, and held a certificate and plaque ceremony.

The International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), which selected the Geochang Y-shaped suspension bridge for the excellence award, is the most influential expert organization in the field of bridges and structures, with about 4,500 members from approximately 100 countries worldwide. Every year, it holds a competition for outstanding structures worldwide and selects award-winning works. In 2022, excellent structures were selected in seven categories, including pedestrian bridges.

Gyeongnam Geochang-gun is holding an award plaque ceremony for the Y-shaped suspension bridge within the Anti-Aging Healing Land.

Structures selected alongside the Geochang Y-shaped suspension bridge in 2022 include Qatar’s ‘Stadium 974’ World Cup stadium, the New Folly Bridge in the United Kingdom, the Suzhou International Convention Center in China, the Hemei Bridge in China, and the Bilbao Wharf facilities in Spain.

Notably, the stadium where the Round of 16 match between Brazil and the Republic of Korea was held during the Qatar World Cup was selected as an excellent structure in the ‘Construction Innovation’ category. The fact that the Y-shaped suspension bridge was recognized as an excellent structure on the same level as this stadium is highly significant.

Gu In-mo, the county governor, said, “The Geochang Y-shaped suspension bridge being selected as a world-class excellent structure for the first time in Korea means that our Geochang has been recognized for its excellence as a forest and recreational tourist destination coexisting with nature. Based on this, Geochang-gun will complete the ‘East-West-South-North Regional Tourism Belt’ by connecting the Anti-Aging Healing Land in the east, Suseungdae in the west, Changpowon and Gamaksan in the south, and the Forest Leisure Sports Park in the north, and will strive further to achieve the ‘Era of One Million Forest Tourists.’”