Ulsan's Gangdong Coastal Park opens as new East Sea tourism destination

The Gangdong beachfront in Buk-gu, Ulsan, has been transformed into a coastal park where visitors can stroll along the sea and enjoy nighttime tourism, emerging as a new attraction on the East Sea coast.

The Gangdong Coastal Park project was selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Southern Region Wide-Area Tourism Development Program, securing 2.6 billion won ($1.69 million) in national funding and 12.8 billion won in municipal funds — 15.4 billion won in total. Construction began in December 2024 and was completed in a year and a half, with the park set to open to the public in July.

The park features a 650-meter promenade with barrier-free tiered stands where visitors can rest while overlooking the sea, a 1,405-square-meter Whale Square designed as a whale-shaped observation space for taking in East Sea sunrises and sunsets, and a 1,157-square-meter Mongdol Square serving as a venue for performances and recreational activities.

To let visitors enjoy the nighttime scenery of the East Sea while listening to the sound of waves, the promenade floor is paved with phosphorescent stones that absorb sunlight during the day and emit light after dark. At night, the effect makes the walkway appear as though stars have descended upon it, giving walkers the feeling of strolling along the Milky Way.

Tourism infrastructure at the park is also being expanded. Buk-gu revised its earlier plan to remodel the existing Mongdol Book Cafe and will instead spend 2 billion won to build a 273-square-meter traveler rest and information center, known as a travel lounge, expected to be completed next year. The facility will provide tourists and residents with a rest space and tourism information.

Ulsan city expects the Gangdong beachfront area to play a major role as a southern regional tourism hub once the newly completed coastal park is joined by private resort developments within the Gangdong tourism complex and the completion of the outer ring expressway and other surrounding projects.

"We plan to add festival and other tourism content to Gangdong Coastal Park and develop it into a leading tourist destination on the East Sea coast," a city official said.