Palyoung Bridge Rest Area in Goheung, Built for 10.7 Billion Won, Remains Empty

Ministry of Land Project Aims for "Tourism Hub,"
But the Site Remains Empty
Parking Lot Without Cars, Shops Become "Ghost Facilities"
County: "Cafe Operations Have Begun... Efforts to Revitalize Starting in October"
Residents: "Showcase Project With Poor Accessibility... A Waste of Taxpayer Money"

Palyoung Bridge as seen from Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung County. A smart complex rest area has been established near the bridge, but there are few visitors. Photo by Kim Jaeseung

The Palyoung Bridge Smart Complex Rest Area in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, which was built at a cost of 10.7 billion won, has remained virtually empty more than a year after its opening. Although it was promoted as a tourism hub through a project sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the reality on site fell short of expectations.

When a reporter visited the rest area’s parking lot on the 27th, there was not a single car. Only the freshly painted parking lines stood out, and no visitors were seen using the facilities. A nearby resident remarked, “Even local residents find it difficult to use due to poor accessibility,” and criticized it as “a typical example of a showcase project by the local government.”

In April last year, Goheung County opened the complex rest area, which includes a hydrogen charging station, a cafe, a specialty product shop, and an observatory. The county aimed to make Palyoung Bridge a gateway for tourism in the era of 10 million annual visitors, while boosting sales of local specialties and encouraging longer stays. However, the hydrogen charging station has only been installed and is not yet operational, and recruiting an operator for the facilities has also been delayed. The commercial spaces have not been properly leased, leading to controversy over the site becoming a “ghost facility.”

An official from the county told this newspaper by phone, “So far, we have issued six bids for four facilities: the cafe, restaurant, specialty product shop, and convenience store. There have been cases where applicants withdrew midway, but for the latest bid, there are applicants and preparations are underway.” The official added, “The cafe began operations on the 26th, and the county will continue efforts to revitalize the area.”

Parking lot of Palyoung Bridge Smart Complex Shelter photographed on the 27th. Photo by Kim Jaeseung

The Smart Complex Rest Area is a project that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been rolling out nationwide since 2020. Each site is built at a cost of about 3 billion won, including 2 billion won in national funding and at least 1 billion won from local governments. Goheung County invested a total of 10.7 billion won by adding facilities such as a hydrogen charging station and an observatory.

Whether the Palyoung Bridge Smart Complex Rest Area will become a “tourism hub” or remain a “white elephant” depends on future operational strategies. However, local residents remain skeptical. On site, the prevailing sentiment is, “If even the locals don’t visit, who else will come?”