Yeongdeok-gun's 7 beaches close for season with zero-accident record

All seven beaches under the jurisdiction of Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province closed for the season Sunday after 38 days of operation.

According to Yeongdeok-gun, visitor numbers this year fell 73 percent from the previous year to about 95,000, as record-breaking heat waves discouraged outdoor activity and repeated rip currents and swells forced authorities to restrict swimming at several beaches.

Despite those challenges — and amid growing concerns about jellyfish and shark sightings along the East Sea coast driven by abnormal climate patterns and rising water temperatures — not a single injury or fatality was recorded at any of the county's beaches from last year through this year, a result officials have welcomed.

Yeongdeok-gun said it plans to conduct a detailed review of this season's operations to identify areas for improvement, and will consistently upgrade infrastructure near the beaches to reduce inconvenience for visitors.

The county also said it expects beachgoers to continue visiting even after the official closure as the heat persists, and will keep water safety personnel on duty through Sept. 13 to ensure there are no gaps in safety management.

"Even amid record heat that made it difficult to go outside, we will systematically review and address shortcomings so we can repay the visitors who came to Yeongdeok with better operations and facilities," Yeongdeok-gun County Mayor Jo Ju-hong said.