The area surrounding Woryeonggyo, Korea’s longest wooden bridge, is famous for its nocturnal charms, thanks to the beauty of the wooden docks and the dams and balancing reservoirs in the background. (Image: Andong City Government)
SEOUL, Jul. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — Regional authorities are increasingly looking towards the evening skyline as a potential revenue stream. The reasoning goes that successful nighttime activities will pull in a share of the tourism market, which should provide a boost to related businesses such as restaurants and lodgings.
Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk Province has for years lit up the bridges that straddle the Nakdong River with lights in the evenings.
The area surrounding Woryeonggyo, Korea’s longest wooden bridge, is famous for its nocturnal charms, thanks to the beauty of the wooden docks and the dams and balancing reservoirs in the background.
A multitude of colorful lights are affixed to the lower pillars of Woryeonggyo, colors that often light up in the evenings according to the season.
Some nights, when the mist of the lake rises to partly enshroud the bridge, the breathtaking view is not unlike a painting done by the finest of artists.
Lit up attractions can be found within the city of Gyeongju itself. The city is hosting cultural events among the famous remnants of Shilla architecture such as Anapji Pond and the Cheomseongdae Observatory.
Pohang and Daegu are also looking to expand upon their nightscapes.
Locals consider Pohang’s decorated steel mills a crucial element of the city’s nighttime charm. The city decorated factories and mills running a length of 3.2 kilometers with 1,500 LED lights last year. The city chose to use indirect lighting techniques and gold-colored lighting to showcase an impressively majestic nighttime viewing experience.
Daegu’s famous Suseong Lake and its surroundings have been decorated for nighttime viewing. The area surrounding the pond is filled with tall apartment buildings, bustling restaurants and teeming crowds of passers-by. When the sun sets, the area overflows with evening lights, the sound of music, and relaxed residents out to enjoy themselves.
To encourage evening activities, the Suseong District Administration has provided “duck boats” (boats shaped like ducks that can be pedaled from within) and two pontoons that can carry up to ten people since the beginning of the year. The boats will be available for use until midnight.
An Andong City official said that beautifying the evening view of the city plays a role in revitalizing the local economy. Going forward, the city will “decorate parks within urban environments so that residents can enjoy beautiful scenery near their home”.
by Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
