(C) KBS

GANGNEUNG — The scenic coastline of Gangneung, a premier tourist destination on South Korea’s eastern seaboard, is undergoing a drastic and alarming transformation. Driven by fierce winter winds and relentless high waves, coastal erosion has accelerated to the point where beach landscapes are becoming unrecognizable, posing a direct threat to public safety and local infrastructure.

Vanishing Sands and Looming Cliffs
On January 5, at Hapyeong Beach in Sacheon-myeon, the severity of the situation was on full display. What is usually a sprawling 6-to-7-meter wide sandy beach during the summer months has been completely reclaimed by the sea. Massive waves were seen surging past the shoreline, crashing directly against the retaining walls of the coastal motor road. During peak swells, the beach vanished entirely, making it impossible to distinguish the shoreline from the open sea.

A few kilometers away at Gangmun Beach, the scene was equally grim. An "escarpment"—a vertical wall of sand carved by wave action—stretched for approximately 100 meters, reaching the height of an average adult male. This area, once a flat haven for vacationers, has become a dangerous terrain. Witnesses reported seeing tourists lose their balance and fall while attempting to climb the near-vertical sandy cliffs to take photographs.

A Growing Crisis: The Data Behind the Erosion
The deterioration is not merely anecdotal; it is backed by sobering official data. According to the 2024 Coastal Erosion Monitoring Report released by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the situation in Gangneung has worsened significantly within a single year.

Of the 26 monitored beaches in the Gangneung area:

14 beaches were rated Grade C (Concern).
3 beaches were rated Grade D (Serious).

In 2023, only one beach was classified as Grade D. By the end of 2024, that number had tripled. Sodol Beach, which recently dropped to Grade D, saw its beach width shrink by an average of 14% and its cross-sectional area decrease by 9.3% during the monitoring period. Hapyeong Beach, which has long struggled with erosion, saw an 11.2% reduction in its total sand volume.

The Causes: Climate Change and Coastal Development
Experts point to a combination of factors exacerbating the "Gold Coast" crisis. While winter high swells (locally known as neoul) are a seasonal phenomenon, rising sea levels caused by global climate change have increased the destructive power of these waves.

Furthermore, the construction of breakwaters and large-scale coastal structures at nearby ports has disrupted the natural "longshore drift"—the process by which sand is moved and replenished along the coast. When this flow is interrupted, sand is stripped away from certain beaches without being replaced, leading to the permanent loss of shoreline.

Government Response and Mitigation
The Gangneung City Government is moving to implement its "Basic Plan for Coastal Maintenance." Currently, shore protection facilities are being constructed in the Yeongok District, with plans to expand these efforts to other high-risk areas.

"We have secured a budget for maintenance projects in the Gangmun and Songjeong districts this year," a city official stated. "In the short term, we will conduct beach nourishment (adding new sand) followed by leveling work to restore the beaches and ensure the safety of residents and visitors."

However, environmentalists warn that temporary sand replenishment is only a "Band-Aid" solution. They argue for more sustainable, nature-based solutions and a re-evaluation of coastal development projects that interfere with the ocean's natural rhythm. As the winter storm season continues, the race to save Gangneung’s iconic coastline remains a critical race against time.