20 beaches in Yangyang-gun open July 10
Pop art exhibition coming to Yangyang shores
Summer festival, four pet-friendly beaches also on offer
Naksansa Beach in Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province, will allow nighttime swimming this summer for the first time in history.
Gwangjin Beach and select other Yangyang beaches will operate as pet-friendly zones for travelers with companion animals.
A Summer Festival (July 31–Aug. 1) and an exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed pop artist Philip Colbert are among a range of cultural events and programs planned across Yangyang's beaches.
Yangyang-gun will open all of its beaches simultaneously on July 10, kicking off the summer tourist season in earnest.
The beaches will operate from July 10 through Aug. 23. Naksansa Beach and 19 other beaches in the county will open simultaneously on July 10, while Mulchi Beach will open a week later on July 17 and welcome visitors through Aug. 23.
In line with an era of roughly 15 million pet-owning households, Gwangjin Beach will operate its entire stretch as a pet beach, while Dongho, Jangyo and Jigyeong beaches will each designate sections where visitors may bring their pets.
Naksansa Beach will hold nighttime openings this year for the first time, permitting nighttime swimming on 14 nights centered on the peak season. While the full program has yet to be finalized, Yangyang-gun said it would offer "differentiated operations." The beach has previously hosted a variety of nighttime arts and culture programs.
Nighttime swimming will take place in the water activity zone in front of the administrative services office in Zone B of Naksansa Beach. Swimmers may enjoy the sea safely until 9 p.m.
The nighttime schedule at Naksansa runs July 17–18, July 24–25 and July 31 in July, and Aug. 1–4, Aug. 7–8 and Aug. 14–16 in August.
To ensure the safety of nighttime swimmers, the county plans to install three lighting towers to illuminate the beach and deploy additional water safety personnel to prevent accidents after dark.
Yangyang-gun has stationed water safety personnel across all of its beaches to prevent accidents caused by crowd congestion. Earlier, the county inspected sandy areas and surrounding facilities to secure safe conditions ahead of opening.
"We have put all our efforts into opening preparations, placing safety and hygiene above all else so that visitors can relax and recharge with peace of mind," Yangyang County Chief Kim Jeong-jung said. "We hope everyone will come to Yangyang this summer and enjoy a perfect vacation with its diverse festivals and safe seas."
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