A coastal deck trail has opened along the Eurwangni shore, the flagship tourist destination of Yeongjong-gu District (Mayor Son Hwa-jeong) in Incheon, allowing visitors to walk without fear of being stranded by the incoming tide. Yeongjong-gu held a community walking event on Sept. 17 to mark the completion of the "Eurwangni Cultural Trail Coastal Deck Path" and officially unveiled the new walkway. The opening comes one year and six months after ground was broken in March 2025.
 [The Korean Today] Community walking event marking completion of the Eurwangni Cultural Trail Coastal Deck Path © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
Mayor Son Hwa-jeong attended the event alongside local residents and officials from related organizations. Planned as both a celebration of the project's completion and a forum for dialogue between residents and the district, the event saw participants walk the entire length of the new deck trail, closely checking whether the pedestrian route flowed naturally and whether safety facilities such as railings had any deficiencies.
The Eurwangni area, with its beach, West Sea scenery and wide range of food and attractions, is one of the leading seaside destinations in the Seoul metropolitan area and Yeongjong-gu's signature attraction, drawing large numbers of residents and tourists each year. However, the existing cultural trail had long been the subject of complaints that pedestrians could become isolated when seawater rose over the path at high tide, and concerns over safety accidents were raised repeatedly.
Yeongjong-gu undertook the additional coastal deck trail to resolve the problem structurally rather than through stopgap measures. The project cost a total of 4.35 billion won, comprising 2.1 billion won in city funds and 2.25 billion won in district funds, and a deck trail with a total length of 590 meters was newly built over the public waters around Eurwangni Beach and Seonnyeo Rock. Construction began in March 2025, and final completion came in September this year.
The deck trail is designed to remain passable at all times regardless of the tides, allowing residents and tourists to take in the Eurwangni coastal scenery without having to consider the time of day. Its structure also makes it easy for people with limited mobility to get around, meaning the district has secured one more waterfront space where the West Sea sunset can be viewed in a safe environment.
The trail is equipped for nighttime use as well. Landscape lighting has been installed along the entire length of the deck trail, ensuring pedestrian safety after dark while, the district expects, establishing the path as a spot for taking in the night views of the Eurwangni coast.
Mayor Son Hwa-jeong said, "With the construction of this coastal deck trail, people can now enjoy the outstanding scenery of Eurwangni more safely," adding, "I hope it becomes a new landmark for Yeongjong-gu, and we will continue to do our best to improve residents' convenience and revitalize local tourism."
Beyond resolving tourist safety issues, the opening of the deck trail is expected to serve as a foundation supporting local commerce and tourism demand by keeping visitors in Eurwangni into the evening hours. For Yeongjong-gu residents, it is also expected to improve living conditions, as they can now use the nearby coast as a walking space regardless of season or time of day.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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