On May 21, Gyeongju City announced that it will begin renovating the aging facilities of the 'Yangnam Columnar Jointing Wave Sound Trail', a major coastal tourist attraction in Yangnam-myeon.
This renovation project will cover a total distance of 1.7 kilometers (from Eupcheon Port to Haseo Port), focusing on replacing old walking paths such as loess pavement and sleeper stairs with deck roads, and installing new landscape lighting and safety railings to enhance both safety and convenience for visitors.
The entire project budget of 420 million won will be funded by the city. The renovation includes refurbishing 100 meters of old loess pavement and sleeper stairs, installing 300 meters of line lighting to improve the walkway’s landscape lighting, and carrying out landscaping and weeding work in the surrounding areas.
Currently, the Wave Sound Trail consists of a 0.3 kilometer deck road, 0.5 kilometers of loess pavement, 0.6 kilometers of coconut mat, and 0.3 kilometers of flagstone and crushed stone pavement. The trail is also equipped with one suspension bridge (35 meters), four observation decks, two pergolas, and landscape lighting.
The 'Columnar Jointing Wave Sound Trail' is a walking path formed along coastal cliffs created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. The natural sounds of waves crashing against the rocks and the unique terrain make it a renowned tourist destination nationwide.
In particular, the Yangnam columnar jointing features a rare geological structure where vertical, curved, and radial forms coexist, offering high academic value and earning designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
After COVID-19, the trail has gained attention as a non-contact outdoor tourist site, leading to a steady increase in visitors. However, the aging walking paths have raised ongoing concerns about the need for renovation.
Gyeongju City completed the detailed design service in January, followed by consultations with relevant agencies for the historic and cultural environment preservation area in March, and conducted a simplified impact assessment in April.
The city plans to begin construction this month and aims to complete the project by September.
Joo Nakyoung, Mayor of Gyeongju City, stated, "The Yangnam columnar jointing is a landmark of Gyeongju's marine tourism, and I hope this renovation will transform it into a safe and pleasant healing space that harmonizes with the natural landscape. We will continue to enhance the quality of Gyeongju's coastline through systematic facility maintenance and management."
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