Full Operation for Vacation Season Begins... Welcoming Visitors with Diverse Festivals
National Song Festival at the Beach, Songdo Beach Retro, Sand Festival, and More
On July 12, Pohang City officially opened all eight of its local beaches, marking the start of the peak summer vacation season.
The city is accelerating preparations to welcome vacationers by presenting large-scale festivals and cultural events.
This year, the designated beaches that have opened are a total of eight: Yeongildae, Songdo, Hwajin, Chilpo, Wolpo, Guryongpo, Dogu, and Sinchang. They will operate for 44 days until August 24.
In particular, Songdo Beach, which has reopened after 18 years, has been reborn as an urban seaside resort and is making thorough preparations to attract visitors.
First, on July 25, the "2025 Pohang Beach National Song Festival" will be held at Songdo Beach. Thirteen teams that have advanced to the finals will compete, and performances by previous grand prize winners and invited singers will follow, filling the summer night with music.
On the same day, the "Pohang Bentonite Festival" will be held for two days. This event promotes the region's clay resource, bentonite, and offers interactive programs such as a cosmetics-making experience and a quiz show, providing a unique experience for family visitors.
Additionally, on the weekend of July 26-27, the 9th Yeongildae Sand Festival will take place around the Yeongildae Beach clock tower. The event features a large sand sculpture exhibition under the theme "K-Healing Pohang, Chorus of Sand (Reconciliation)," as well as a drone light show, EDM festival, sand art show, and a late-night SEA-nema, among other unique attractions.
Before and after the festival period, there will also be hands-on programs for families, such as healing barefoot walks, a children's sand playground, water gun survival games, and sunset beach yoga. The sand sculpture exhibition, which began on July 19, will be open as a permanent attraction for 65 days until September 21.
Furthermore, during the "Pohang Songdo Beach Retro Festival" on August 1-2, there will be citizen-participation retro song contests, the Mat&Rock Pong Restaurant, flea markets, and experience booths with amusement park and roller rink themes.
During the beach operation period, Pohang City will have water safety personnel, rescue teams, and emergency medical staff on standby at all times. The city has also completed the installation of jellyfish control measures, shark nets, and the maintenance of facilities such as showers and restrooms. In addition, a price stabilization campaign is being continuously promoted in cooperation with local merchants to create a vacation destination free from price gouging.
A city official stated, "This summer, Pohang has prepared a rich lineup of summer festivals that blend the ocean, culture, and healing. In particular, with the reopening of Songdo Beach, which holds cherished memories for many citizens, we hope that more citizens and tourists will enjoy a special summer by the sea in Pohang."
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