Sorokdo and Nokdong Port also draw crowds
Palgyeong Bridge, which links Goheung and Yeosu, was the most visited tourist destination in Goheung-gun in the first half of this year.
According to Goheung-gun, the bridge — connecting Yeongnam-myeon in Goheung-gun to Jeokgeum Island in Yeosu — drew 560,000 visitors in the first half of the year, topping the county's tourism rankings.
The bridge is a popular scenic drive offering sweeping views of the Dadohae archipelago, and it has drawn strong visitor numbers in combination with nearby Namnyeol Sunrise Beach and the Goheung Space Launch Observatory.
Families and couples flocked to the area throughout the first half of the year, drawn by surfing at Namnyeol Sunrise Beach — which has emerged as a premier surf destination — and by the 360-degree rotating cafe at the Space Launch Observatory, which offers unobstructed ocean views toward the Naro Space Center.
Sorokdo, a historic cultural site widely known as a former Hansen's disease settlement, and Nokdong Port, which hosts a drone festival, each drew about 210,000 visitors.
Known as an "island of healing," Sorokdo combines pristine natural scenery with well-preserved modern cultural heritage — including a history park that reflects the lives and hardships of Hansen's disease patients and the Sorokdo detention facility — and has established itself as a destination that offers both education and respite.
Nokdong Port, which tied Sorokdo in visitor numbers, drew anglers and food tourists alike.
The port's nearby Nokdong Eel Street proved a popular culinary stop for those seeking the area's signature restorative dish, while the Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show — featuring spectacular nighttime swarm-flight performances — drew an enthusiastic response from visitors.
Officials attributed the results to Goheung's distinctive blend of history, food and nighttime entertainment, which they said has driven strong extended-stay tourism.
Goheung-gun said it plans to sustain the strong growth seen in the first half through the second half of the year.
"In the second half, we will actively roll out differentiated extended-stay packages — such as 'Space Railroad 999' and rail-linked travel products — to build Goheung into a leading multi-attraction destination where visitors can immerse themselves in space and nature by day and enjoy a romantic atmosphere by night," an official from the county's tourism policy office said.
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