The Taehwaru (Yonggeumso) Skywalk, newly built next to Ulsan's historic landmark Taehwaru dating back to the Silla Dynasty, has attracted some 95,000 visitors in roughly 100 days since its opening, rapidly emerging as a new experiential tourism landmark representing Ulsan.
Taehwaru was built during the reign of Queen Seondeok of the Silla Dynasty and was renowned as one of the three great pavilions representing the Yeongnam region, alongside Chokseongnu in Jinju and Yeongnamnu in Miryang. After being destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592, it was restored in 2014 in response to the wishes of local citizens, becoming a symbolic structure of Ulsan. Notably, S-OIL, which operates a key plant in Ulsan, sponsored the entire construction cost of 10 billion won as part of its local community contribution projects during the restoration process.
The skywalk, built right next to Taehwaru, has been welcoming citizens since December 24 last year, equipped with the latest leisure and experience facilities including fountains, landscape lighting, media facade on its exterior walls, a motorized swing, and nets. The majestic traditional wooden pavilion carrying a thousand years of history stands side by side with thrilling modern activity facilities, strongly drawing tourists.
With spring in full swing, the motorized swing and net experience facilities at the skywalk are gaining word-of-mouth popularity among family visitors and young people as so-called "perfect shot" spots. Walking on the transparent floor with the blue waves of the Taehwa River flowing below and experiencing the motorized swing that feels like soaring through the sky against the backdrop of open scenery offers a different kind of thrilling enjoyment from quietly admiring the view from the serene pavilion floor.
Until now, the Taehwagang National Garden and Taehwaru have boasted beautiful natural scenery and traditional beauty throughout the four seasons, but concerns had been raised about the lack of hands-on experience facilities beyond visual appreciation. The Taehwaru Skywalk is playing a key role in quenching this thirst of tourists. The addition of dynamic recreational facilities to static garden walks and pavilion viewing is evaluated to have elevated the completeness of regional tourism.
This synergy between old and new is being proven by explosive visitor growth. Over the 100 days since opening, approximately 95,000 visitors have visited the skywalk, more than double the roughly 40,000 existing visitors to the Taehwaru area throughout 2025.
The skywalk's strong performance is not confined to within the facility but is bringing warmth to the local economy overall. After completing the exhilarating experience at the skywalk, visitors climb up to the adjacent Taehwaru to catch their breath and then naturally move on to the nearby Taehwa Market and surrounding cafes and restaurant streets, bringing long-awaited vitality to the previously stagnant commercial district. An official from the Taehwa Market Merchants Association said visits to the market by outsiders are noticeably increasing and expressed hope that this trend will lead to actual sales growth.
"In just 100 days since opening, the Taehwaru Skywalk has firmly established itself as a representative regional tourism asset where past grandeur and modern enjoyment coexist," a Ulsan City official said. "Through safe operations and continuous content reinforcement, we will provide visitors with unforgettable memories and contribute to revitalizing the local economy."
