By Hahm Hee-eun

Oeongchi Beach in Sokcho is now once again unveiling its beauty after 65 years.

Oeongchi Beach, which is shaped like a traditional hangari earthenware jar, had been a restricted area since the Korean War (1950-1953). After an armed guerrilla attack from North Korea in the 1970s, barbed-wire fences were installed around the seashore and the area was completely cordoned off.

However, starting April 12, Oeongchi Beach has finally opened to the public once again, and the Badahyangiro Walkway, the "trail of the sea’s aroma,” which has been established along the coast, can now unveil the hidden beauty of the East Sea. The trail starts at Sokcho Beach, passes along the Oeongchi coast and ends at Oeongchi Harbor, offering the freshness of the turquoise-blue ocean all along the walkway.

The Badahyangiro Walkway is divided into different trails, each with its own theme: rock observation, security experience, skydeck experience, and bamboo meditation. The trail for rock observation features rock formations in fantastic shapes carved by the shattering of the sea waves. The skydeck experience trails has a dense forest of different pine trees, and the trail for bamboo meditation shows walkers the harmony of the sea breeze rustling through the delicate bamboo blades.

Finally, there’s the trail that focuses on the security experience. Some lengths of barbed-wire fence, some of the bunkers and guard posts were left intact in the area to remind visitors of the realities of the past. Visitors can feel the fact of national division, and overall it helps to raise awareness of unification.

Coastal walkways in other areas are also being developed. The Badabuchaegil Walkway, which was established along Jeongdongjin Beach in Gangneung in 2016, has had more than 700,000 visitors so far, successfully establishing itself as a popular tourist site. Donghae City, which recently cleared away the barbed-wire fences along the Hansum-Hapyung coastal area, is also planning to build a walkway along the beach there. More and more barbed-wire fences are being pulled down and replaced by beautiful coastal walkways, creating new tourist attractions along Korea’s stunning east coast.


hehahm@korea.kr