'City of Light and Steel' Gwangyang's Panorama Walk to Open on October 8, With One-Month Pilot Operation Available by Advance Reservation

【Financial News Gwangyang = Hwang Tae-jong】Panorama Walk, set to become a landmark of Gwangyang, the 'City of Light and Steel,' will make its debut for residents and tourists on October 8.
According to Gwangyang-si on the 17th, the unveiling ceremony for Panorama Walk will be held on October 8. The facility was created through the convergence of Gwangyang's vision of becoming Korea's industrial capital and POSCO's philosophy of shared growth. It will then begin a one-month pilot operation from October 9 through November 8.
Panorama Walk is an experiential observation landmark built at the summit of 473-meter-high Gubongsan Mountain, where an old beacon station once stood. It is a symbolic tourist attraction that brings Gwangyang's industry and nature, as well as its light and scenery, together in one space.
Designed by Spanish architect Manuel Monteserin under the theme 'Gwangyang, the City of Light and Steel,' the facility consists of a 27-meter-high silver spiral structure and a pedestrian ramp approximately 300 meters long. Its graceful curves, which appear to rise toward the sky, express the strength of steel and the dynamism of light—symbols of Gwangyang—in a modern sculptural language. Set against the summit of Gubongsan Mountain overlooking Gwangyangman, the structure completes a distinctive landscape.
The structure uses highly durable stainless steel resistant to coastal conditions, along with a steel frame designed to withstand earthquakes, ensuring safety and durability. An inclined elevator was also installed to improve accessibility.
Gwangyang Mayor Park Seong-hyeon said at the ceremony, "Panorama Walk is the result of mutually beneficial cooperation created jointly by Gwangyang-si, which aspires to become Korea's industrial capital, and POSCO, which puts the value of coexistence into practice." He added, "It is a symbolic space that embodies, through architectural imagination, Gwangyang's unique identity, where industry and nature, the sea and the city coexist."
Visitors to Panorama Walk are expected to find it highly appealing, as they can encounter forests, the sky and the scenery of Gwangyangman from various heights and angles while walking toward the summit.
Once they reach the summit, visitors will be treated to a sweeping 360-degree panoramic view extending from Gwangyangman and Yi Sun-sin Bridge to Gwangyang Steel Works, the mouth of the Seomjin River, the Baegunsan ridgeline and the archipelago of the southern sea. During the day, they can enjoy unobstructed views; around sunset, Gwangyangman bathed in the glow of the setting sun; and at night, the renowned nightscape of Gwangyangman. Each time of day offers a different appeal.
Panorama Walk will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with free admission. For safety, visits will be managed through an advance reservation system, with attendance limited to 200 people per hour. Reservations can be made through the MY Gwangyang app starting at 9 a.m. on the 21st. Individuals may reserve for up to five people, while groups may apply for between six and 50 people. On October 9, the opening day, a special viewing session will be held for 500 visitors. Participants will be recruited on a first-come, first-served basis through the Gwangyang-si Cultural and Tourism website on September 21.
Gwangyang Mayor Park Seong-hyeon said, "I hope Panorama Walk, standing tall on Gubongsan Mountain, will become an attractive tourism landmark that gives residents a sense of pride and provides tourists with a reason to visit Gwangyang." He added, "We will develop it into a tourist destination visited by people from around the world, offering a special experience where Gwangyang's nature, industrial heritage and urban future come together."
Meanwhile, during the pilot operation, Gwangyang-si plans to inspect its operational and safety management systems and gather visitors' opinions for incorporation into the facility's future full-scale operation.

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