Since Yangyang-gun County Chief Kim Jeong-jung took office, a broad renewal effort has expanded beyond urban beautification and cultural programming to uncover lesser-known tourist destinations and refurbish their facilities.
In September, Yangyang-gun completed renovations at Yongho-ri Observatory, one of the area's signature attractions offering sweeping views of the East Sea and the scenic coastal landscape.
The work aimed to prevent safety accidents caused by aging infrastructure and to extend the durability and service life of the facilities.
Crews removed and replaced deteriorated safety fencing along roughly 200 meters of the access road leading to the observatory, and treated the steel structural columns with rust removal, anti-corrosion coating and weather-resistant paint to strengthen the structure's safety and longevity.
The county also completed renovations along roughly 350 meters of the Mongdol Sori trail, a coastal walking path built along Jeongam Beach.
The trail is known for the distinctive sound of waves washing over its rounded pebbles and for its scenic coastal views, making it a popular walking destination for local residents and tourists alike.
Yangyang-gun plans to carry out additional improvements along the Mongdol Sori trail in the Jeongam-ri 1-4 area by the end of November.
Both Yongho-ri Observatory and the Jeongam Beach Mongdol Sori trail offer scenery striking enough to leave visitors wondering why these spots have not been better known until now.
"The walking trail and the observatory are precious tourism resources that allow visitors to enjoy Yangyang's beautiful natural scenery up close," a county official said. "We will continue to inspect aging facilities and carry out phased improvements to create a safe and pleasant tourism environment, and to enhance Yangyang-gun's image and visitor satisfaction."
Kim Jeong-jung, a first-term county chief, opened his administration in July by publicly apologizing for a series of governance failures that had occurred in Yangyang before last year, signaling a clear commitment to reform from the outset.
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