ULSAN — An elevated pedestrian bridge offering views of the sea and the city skyline will open in the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Special District in Ulsan's Nam-gu District, timed to coincide with the Ulsan Whale Festival.
Nam-gu said on the 12th that it had completed construction of the walkway, called Goraedeung-gil, and would open it to coincide with the Ulsan Whale Festival. The project cost 6.1 billion won ($4.3 million), drawn from the 45.3 billion won total budget for a broader southern regional tourism development program.
The bridge stands about 20 meters above the ground and measures 135 meters long and 3 to 6 meters wide. It directly links Whale Plaza, home to the boarding station for the Whales Kart ride, with the Whales Fantasium, where the Whales Swing operates, both attractions inside the special district. From the walkway, visitors can take in 360-degree panoramic views of the Whale Culture Village, a hydrangea cluster, the waters off Jangsaengpo and the Ulsan Bridge. Sculptures shaped like hydrangeas, a local tourism draw, have also been installed along the span.
The completion of the bridge marks the start of a broader effort to connect tourism facilities across the Jangsaengpo area. In addition to the existing Whales Swing and Whales Kart attractions, Nam-gu plans to link the walkway with "The Wave," a media content installation featuring marine scenery; "Jangsaengpo Light," a nighttime media display using former SK oil storage tanks; and "Goraejam." The aim is to widen the area visitors can cover and extend the time they spend there.
The southern regional tourism development program that includes Goraedeung-gil is a project to build tourism hub facilities and supporting infrastructure in the Jangsaengpo area, with a total of 45.3 billion won to be invested from 2024 through 2027. Nam-gu estimates the project will generate 79 billion won in economic ripple effects, create or induce 535 jobs and produce about 2.5 billion won in annual revenue.
Nam-gu said it would also pursue follow-up projects in stages, including "Yahyang Story," an integrated public design upgrade and the creation of a "Whale Wind Road."
"With the opening of Goraedeung-gil, the main hubs inside the special district are now connected in the air, improving both visitor circulation and the viewing experience," Nam-gu District Mayor Lim Hyun-chul said. "We will organically link the follow-up projects of the southern regional tourism development program with existing facilities to develop Jangsaengpo into a tourism hub for both daytime and nighttime stays."