Path cuts through heart-shaped coastline like Cupid's arrow; 200,000 visitors in 46 days
A quintessential Korean lagoon setting, the Songjiho Sea-Sky Trail is a maritime walking path connecting the entrance of Songjiho Lake to a small uninhabited island, offering close-up views of the East Sea's scenic coastline.
The trail runs toward Jukdo, an uninhabited island at the center of a heart-shaped stretch of shoreline, cutting through the middle like Cupid's arrow.
Goseong-gun, a county in Gangwon Province that bills itself as a "hub city for the peace economy," announced Friday that the Songjiho Sea-Sky Trail had surpassed 200,000 cumulative visitors just 46 days after its official opening on Sept. 5.
The county plans to develop the trail into a destination that draws tourists from across the country on a sustained basis.
Going forward, it intends to add festivals, cultural and arts events, and a range of hands-on experiences, while linking the trail with Songjiho Lake and nearby attractions to encourage longer stays.
The county also plans to work with local business leaders to develop measures linking the trail to broader economic revitalization, including food and shopping options.
Improvements to visitor amenities and facility operations will be pursued on an ongoing basis to create a safe and comfortable tourism environment, officials said.
"We have only just taken our first step, so there is still much to fill in," Goseong County Chief Ham Myeong-jun said. "We will continue to strengthen tourism content and find ways to grow alongside the local community — so that the many people now flocking to Goseong can stay, spend, and ensure the benefits flow back to local residents — and develop the Songjiho Sea-Sky Trail into Goseong-gun's signature sustainable tourism destination."
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