Posco unveils 'Panorama Walk' steel landmark atop Gubongsan in Gwangyang

A 365-meter steel walkway has opened at the summit of Gubongsan in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, giving visitors a chance to stroll through a towering sculptural structure while taking in sweeping views of Gwangyang Bay and the surrounding mountains.

Posco and the city of Gwangyang held an unveiling ceremony for the interactive installation, called "Panorama Walk," at the Gubongsan summit on Thursday to mark Gwangyang Citizens' Day. About 100 people attended, including Posco President Lee Hee-geun, Gwangyang Mayor Park Seong-hyeon and Gwangyang City Council Speaker Lee Gi-yeon.

The design draws inspiration from the ancient beacon-fire towers that once stood on Gubongsan. Those towers served as a means of sending messages and welcoming people from afar — a concept the designers translated into a structure shaped like flames leaping upward.

The installation is substantial in scale. The walkable track stretches about 365 meters, rises 27 meters at its highest point, and ranges from 13 to 21 meters in width depending on the section. The entire structure spirals through seven full rotations.

Rather than a static object to be viewed from the outside, the installation is designed to be experienced from within. Walking the track offers panoramic views of Gwangyang Bay and the surrounding peaks from multiple angles. Interactive features — including a kaleidoscope, swing stairs, an art wall and a glass floor — are installed at various points along the route.

Steel is the primary material throughout. Posco used high-corrosion-resistant stainless steel and other durable materials suited to long-term outdoor use. The design was led by Manuel Álvarez-Monteserin Lahoz, a Spanish multidisciplinary artist and designer, in collaboration with the architecture firm I&Architects.

Monteserin won first prize at the 2011 Kaohsiung Pop Music Center international design competition and took top honors in NASA's 2018 Mars habitat design competition.

The project took about four years to complete. Posco and the city of Gwangyang signed an MOU in October 2022 to develop Gubongsan as a regional tourism destination and began work shortly after.

Posco E&C handled construction, while Posco A&C oversaw project management. The installation's core concept is "eternal beacon tower."

Residents had a say in the design process. An advisory committee of experts and stakeholders guided the project, and public input was gathered through online surveys and a citizens' committee to shape the design and spatial layout.

With the unveiling ceremony complete, Panorama Walk will be transferred to the city of Gwangyang. On Friday, the city will host a "Citizens' Open Day" for Gwangyang residents. A Posco employee volunteer team will run programs including commemorative photo sessions, busking performances and calligraphy activities.

Posco plans to package the new Gubongsan installation with the nearby cultural complex Park1538 Gwangyang as a combined tourism offering.

Park1538 Gwangyang opened in April last year and houses a promotional center, an education center and the Posco Art Museum Gwangyang. The complex presents the history of the steel industry and the company's activities through interactive exhibitions, and also hosts art shows. In July, it received the Platinum Award — the top honor — in the architecture category of the international A' Design Award competition.

An exhibition marking the opening of Panorama Walk is also under way. The Posco Art Museum Gwangyang is running "Panorama Walk: THE INFINITE LIGHT" from Oct. 6 through Nov. 28, documenting the process behind the installation's creation.

Posco is also exploring ways to tie the attraction to existing local events such as the Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival. The aim is to broaden the city's image — long defined by its industrial facilities — toward nature and cultural tourism, and to encourage visitors to stay longer.

This is not the first time Posco has built a large-scale interactive installation in the region. In 2021, it opened "Space Walk" at Hwanho Park in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, a structure with a total track length of 333 meters. Space Walk received the Presidential Award at the 2023 Korea Space Culture Awards and has drawn a cumulative total of more than 4 million visitors this year.

Posco also runs cultural and arts programs at its Posco Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The lobby features a permanent display of "Cheol-i Cheol Cheol," a media artwork by Nam June Paik and Shigeko Kubota, while the below-ground Posco Art Museum offers free exhibitions featuring emerging artists, among other programming.