Walking in the Clouds and Chasing the First Light: Exploring Pohang Space Walk & Homigot (포항 스페이스워크 & 호미곶)
Following our twilight exploration of the moonlit pavilions and mirrored waters of Gyeongju, today’s morning guide travels east to the rugged coast of North Gyeongsang Province, arriving at South Korea’s vibrant maritime steel capital: Pohang (포항).
Known throughout Korea as the "City of Steel and Fire," Pohang has transformed into an exhilarating coastal cultural hub. High atop the forested ridge of Hwanho Park stands Space Walk (스페이스워크), a massive, climbable steel sculpture that looks like a roller coaster suspended in the air. Further down the jagged coastline at the easternmost tip of the Korean peninsula lies Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장), home to the iconic bronze sculpture Hands of Harmony rising straight out of the crashing waves of the East Sea.
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Highlights of Pohang Space Walk & Homigot
- Pohang Space Walk (포항 환호공원 스페이스워크): Designed by world-renowned German artist duo Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth using POSCO’s high-grade structural steel, this 333-meter-long walkable sculpture features 717 stairs winding through peaks and curves up to 25 meters above ground. Walking its open mesh steel walkways creates the sensation of stepping into zero gravity, offering 360-degree aerial panoramas of Yeongil Bay, Songdo Beach, and the POSCO steelworks across the water.
- Homigot Sunrise Square & Hands of Harmony (상생의 손): Located at the geographic "tiger's tail" tip of Korea, this coastal plaza marks where the sun rises first on the Korean mainland. The landmark Hands of Harmony consists of two giant bronze hands facing each other—the left hand grounded in the plaza and the right hand emerging from the open ocean, symbolizing coexistence and mutual harmony as the morning sun crests between its fingers.
- Yeongildae Beach & Floating Marine Pavilion (영일대 해수욕장 & 영일대): Close to the city center, Yeongildae is Korea's first traditional Korean wooden pavilion built directly over the open sea on a stone pier. At night, it serves as a viewing platform for the LED light show across the POSCO industrial skyline.
- Igari Anchor Observatory (이가리 닻 전망대): A 102-meter-long boardwalk designed in the silhouette of a ship's anchor, extending out from a dense pine grove over cobalt sea waters and jagged shoreline volcanic rocks.
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What to Eat & Drink: Icy Broths & Deep-Sea Delicacies
1. Pohang Spicy Cold Raw Fish Soup (Pohang Mulhoe / 포항물회): Unlike sweet, slushy versions elsewhere, authentic Pohang mulhoe features freshly sliced rockfish or flounder tossed with cucumber, Korean pear, chili paste (gochujang), and water or crushed ice. Traditionally eaten by fishermen as a fast, energizing meal on rocking boats (Yeongildae Mulhoe Street & Jukdo Market).
2. Guryongpo Snow Crab Feasts (Daege / 대게): Sweet, tender snow crab caught off the deep continental shelf of the East Sea, steamed whole in massive pressure steamers and served with crab roe fried rice packed into the shell (Guryongpo Port Market).
3. Half-Dried Pacific Saury (Gwamegi / 과메기): Fresh herring or Pacific saury naturally freeze-dried and thawed repeatedly by clean, salty ocean winds during winter. Wrapped in dried seaweed, kelp, cabbage, and dipped in spicy vinegar-gochujang.
4. Pohang Moripgukbap (Mori Guksu / 모리국수): A fiery, thick noodle soup simmered with fresh monkfish, seafood offal, red pepper flakes, bean sprouts, and handmade flat noodles in a communal boiling iron pot.
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Essential Visitor Tips
- Space Walk Weather & Capacity: The Space Walk accommodates up to 150 visitors at a time. The 360-degree loop section is purely decorative and blocked off for safety. During wind gusts exceeding 8 m/s or rainfall, the walkway automatically closes for safety. Check local morning weather before heading up.
- Best Sunrise Window at Homigot: Arrive at Homigot 30 minutes before sunrise. Watching the fiery red sun rise over the horizon and align directly between the fingertips of the offshore bronze hand is one of the most photographed sights in South Korea.
- Jukdo Market Logistics: Plan your lunch around Jukdo Market (죽도시장), which boasts over 1,500 stalls. Visit the live sashimi alley (Hoetjip Golmok) to select live fish from saltwater tanks to be prepared immediately on the spot.
- Getting There from Seoul: Board a high-speed KTX train from Seoul Station directly to Pohang Station (approx. 2 hours 20 minutes). From Pohang KTX Station, city bus No. 9000 connects you directly to Hwanho Park (Space Walk) in 25 minutes, or take express bus No. 9000 south to Homigot Sunrise Square (approx. 1 hour).
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Visitor Information
- Addresses:
* Pohang Space Walk: 30 Hwanhopongwon-gil, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 포항시 북구 환호공원길 30)
* Homigot Sunrise Square: 136 Haemaji-ro, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 해맞이로 136)
- Nearest Transit: Pohang KTX Station (Direct express city buses No. 9000 and 302).
- Operating Hours:
* Space Walk:
- Weekdays: 10:00 – 20:00 (Nov–Mar closes at 17:00)
- Weekends/Holidays: 10:00 – 21:00 (Nov–Mar closes at 18:00)
* Homigot Sunrise Square: Open 24/7.
- Admission: Free entry to both Space Walk and Homigot Sunrise Square.
Following our twilight exploration of the moonlit pavilions and mirrored waters of Gyeongju, today’s morning guide travels east to the rugged coast of North Gyeongsang Province, arriving at South Korea’s vibrant maritime steel capital: Pohang (포항).
Known throughout Korea as the "City of Steel and Fire," Pohang has transformed into an exhilarating coastal cultural hub. High atop the forested ridge of Hwanho Park stands Space Walk (스페이스워크), a massive, climbable steel sculpture that looks like a roller coaster suspended in the air. Further down the jagged coastline at the easternmost tip of the Korean peninsula lies Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장), home to the iconic bronze sculpture Hands of Harmony rising straight out of the crashing waves of the East Sea.
---
Highlights of Pohang Space Walk & Homigot
- Pohang Space Walk (포항 환호공원 스페이스워크): Designed by world-renowned German artist duo Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth using POSCO’s high-grade structural steel, this 333-meter-long walkable sculpture features 717 stairs winding through peaks and curves up to 25 meters above ground. Walking its open mesh steel walkways creates the sensation of stepping into zero gravity, offering 360-degree aerial panoramas of Yeongil Bay, Songdo Beach, and the POSCO steelworks across the water.
- Homigot Sunrise Square & Hands of Harmony (상생의 손): Located at the geographic "tiger's tail" tip of Korea, this coastal plaza marks where the sun rises first on the Korean mainland. The landmark Hands of Harmony consists of two giant bronze hands facing each other—the left hand grounded in the plaza and the right hand emerging from the open ocean, symbolizing coexistence and mutual harmony as the morning sun crests between its fingers.
- Yeongildae Beach & Floating Marine Pavilion (영일대 해수욕장 & 영일대): Close to the city center, Yeongildae is Korea's first traditional Korean wooden pavilion built directly over the open sea on a stone pier. At night, it serves as a viewing platform for the LED light show across the POSCO industrial skyline.
- Igari Anchor Observatory (이가리 닻 전망대): A 102-meter-long boardwalk designed in the silhouette of a ship's anchor, extending out from a dense pine grove over cobalt sea waters and jagged shoreline volcanic rocks.
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What to Eat & Drink: Icy Broths & Deep-Sea Delicacies
1. Pohang Spicy Cold Raw Fish Soup (Pohang Mulhoe / 포항물회): Unlike sweet, slushy versions elsewhere, authentic Pohang mulhoe features freshly sliced rockfish or flounder tossed with cucumber, Korean pear, chili paste (gochujang), and water or crushed ice. Traditionally eaten by fishermen as a fast, energizing meal on rocking boats (Yeongildae Mulhoe Street & Jukdo Market).
2. Guryongpo Snow Crab Feasts (Daege / 대게): Sweet, tender snow crab caught off the deep continental shelf of the East Sea, steamed whole in massive pressure steamers and served with crab roe fried rice packed into the shell (Guryongpo Port Market).
3. Half-Dried Pacific Saury (Gwamegi / 과메기): Fresh herring or Pacific saury naturally freeze-dried and thawed repeatedly by clean, salty ocean winds during winter. Wrapped in dried seaweed, kelp, cabbage, and dipped in spicy vinegar-gochujang.
4. Pohang Moripgukbap (Mori Guksu / 모리국수): A fiery, thick noodle soup simmered with fresh monkfish, seafood offal, red pepper flakes, bean sprouts, and handmade flat noodles in a communal boiling iron pot.
---
Essential Visitor Tips
- Space Walk Weather & Capacity: The Space Walk accommodates up to 150 visitors at a time. The 360-degree loop section is purely decorative and blocked off for safety. During wind gusts exceeding 8 m/s or rainfall, the walkway automatically closes for safety. Check local morning weather before heading up.
- Best Sunrise Window at Homigot: Arrive at Homigot 30 minutes before sunrise. Watching the fiery red sun rise over the horizon and align directly between the fingertips of the offshore bronze hand is one of the most photographed sights in South Korea.
- Jukdo Market Logistics: Plan your lunch around Jukdo Market (죽도시장), which boasts over 1,500 stalls. Visit the live sashimi alley (Hoetjip Golmok) to select live fish from saltwater tanks to be prepared immediately on the spot.
- Getting There from Seoul: Board a high-speed KTX train from Seoul Station directly to Pohang Station (approx. 2 hours 20 minutes). From Pohang KTX Station, city bus No. 9000 connects you directly to Hwanho Park (Space Walk) in 25 minutes, or take express bus No. 9000 south to Homigot Sunrise Square (approx. 1 hour).
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Visitor Information
- Addresses:
* Pohang Space Walk: 30 Hwanhopongwon-gil, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 포항시 북구 환호공원길 30)
* Homigot Sunrise Square: 136 Haemaji-ro, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 해맞이로 136)
- Nearest Transit: Pohang KTX Station (Direct express city buses No. 9000 and 302).
- Operating Hours:
* Space Walk:
- Weekdays: 10:00 – 20:00 (Nov–Mar closes at 17:00)
- Weekends/Holidays: 10:00 – 21:00 (Nov–Mar closes at 18:00)
* Homigot Sunrise Square: Open 24/7.
- Admission: Free entry to both Space Walk and Homigot Sunrise Square.
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