Gangwon State’s East Coast Beaches Close for the Season; 6,993,547 Visitors This Year, Down 19% from Previous Year

【Financial News Gangneung = Kim Ki-seop】The number of visitors to beaches along Gangwon State’s east coast reached 6,993,547 this year, down 19% from the previous year.
According to Gangwon State on the 8th, all beaches in six cities and counties along the east coast closed for the season on the 6th, with Ayajin Beach being the last to close. Among the six local governments, Yangyang County saw a 29% increase in visitors from the previous year, while the other five all recorded declines. The decrease is attributed to tourism demand being dispersed as summer vacations diversified beyond beach-centered activities to include indoor attractions, experiential activities, and nighttime tourism amid record heat waves, monsoon rains, and other adverse weather conditions.
Because tourists and local residents are expected to continue using the beaches for some time after the seasonal closure, Gangwon State has decided to minimize any gaps in safety management.
Gangwon State will deploy 230 safety personnel across 90 locations in six cities and counties along the east coast. Until the 13th, they will patrol major beaches and areas with large visitor concentrations, guide people entering the water, and inspect dangerous areas. Some areas will retain personnel through the end of September and continue safety management according to local conditions.
The province will also conduct regular joint patrols with relevant agencies, including the Korea Coast Guard, and maintain its on-site response system by guiding visitors to evacuate when dangerous conditions, such as severe weather or high waves, arise. Safety management will continue not only at designated beaches that have closed for the season but also at undesignated beaches visited by tourists and residents, in connection with programs such as the Coastal Safety Guardian program.
However, visitors should exercise caution because there may be periods after the seasonal closure when no safety personnel are stationed, and the operation of safety and convenience facilities will also end. Before entering the sea, they should check the weather and wave conditions in advance and avoid dangerous activities such as entering the water after drinking or at night.
Lee Dong-hee, director of Gangwon State’s Tourism Bureau, said, "Although demand for beach activities has declined and usage patterns have changed because of the heat waves and monsoon rains, people will continue to visit the beaches even after they close for the season." He added, "We will station safety personnel through the end of September and monitor even undesignated beaches to make Gangwon State’s east coast free of accidents."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter