Haeundae and Songjeong, two of Busan's signature beaches, will open simultaneously on July 26 to welcome summer visitors in earnest. This year, the beaches have transformed into venues "where everyone can visit with peace of mind," with a focus that goes beyond simple summer operation to strengthened safety management, expanded family-friendly facilities, and a barrier-free environment for people with limited mobility.
Haeundae District announced Wednesday that it will open Haeundae Beach and Songjeong Beach starting July 26, operating from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Haeundae Beach will remain open through Sept. 15, and Songjeong Beach through Aug. 31.
In particular, Haeundae Beach will operate through mid-September again this year, following last year. The measure reflects a trend in which heat waves last longer due to climate change and more tourists visit the beach even after the operating period ends.
Haeundae District has put forward safety management as the top priority for this summer's beach operation. It will install safety facilities such as watchtowers and buoys, and build a cooperative system with private water rescue teams, the 119 water rescue team, the coast guard, and police to prevent accidents.
The district will also respond actively to jellyfish damage that recurs every summer recently. At Haeundae Beach, a jellyfish blocking net will be installed to prevent the influx of large jellyfish such as Nomura's jellyfish. Small jellyfish such as the blue button jellyfish will be immediately collected by rescue teams and fishing village cooperatives. At Songjeong Beach, where installing a blocking net is difficult, five vessels and specialized personnel will be deployed to directly catch jellyfish.
A "water activity emergency treatment station" will also operate for the first time at Haeundae Beach to respond to emergencies that may occur during water activities. Haeundae District plans to raise the safety level for beachgoers by strengthening first aid and initial response systems.
Safety management has also been strengthened in some sections of Haeundae Beach. The beach in front of Palais De Cz, which poses an accident risk due to reefs, has been designated a no-swimming zone. On both sides of the white sand beach, excluding the parasol operating section in front of the tourist information center, the free-use space for personal parasols has been expanded.
Convenience facilities for family tourists have also been improved. Part of the tourist information center was remodeled to newly create a "baby lounge," a family-type nursing room. It will operate as a rest area that all family members, including mothers and fathers, can use.
Songjeong Beach has also completed environmental improvement work on the public restroom behind the tourist information center. Interior partitions, sinks, and underground piping were fully renovated to enhance user convenience.
The creation of barrier-free beaches for people with limited mobility also stands out. The barrier-free decks installed at two locations each at Haeundae and Songjeong beaches have been fully renovated so that wheelchair users, families with strollers, the elderly, and pregnant women can use the beaches more conveniently.
"We will operate the beaches this summer as tourism infrastructure equipped with safety, convenience, and accessibility, and work to attract domestic and international tourists," a Haeundae District official said.
