Kim Woo-young Gwanggyo Column 'Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path', The Road My Heart Has Always Dreamed Of

The wind that day must have been blowing from the western sea. Looking at how my heart and body moved in that direction.

But the sun was too hot. While it's natural for summer to be hot, the wind blowing from the sea was also hot wind.

When I was young, I preferred summer to the cold winter. Whenever I had a chance, I would roam to mountains, fields, rivers, and the sea.

But at some point, the summer heat became unbearable. In the cold winter, I can just wear padded jackets and thermal underwear and move around, but there's nothing I can do about the heat. Even when I take off my clothes, it's still hot.

That said, I don't prefer to spend the whole day in a room with air conditioning on, not only because I worry about electricity bills but also because it's not good for my health.

Moreover, I'm a person who cannot sit in one place for long. Except when I'm concentrating on writing.

It seems I must have the character for wind (風) in my destiny.

Heat... Actually, I've experienced extreme heat beyond imagination.

In the summer of 2017, I traveled to Urumqi, Dunhuang, Hami, Shanshan, and Turpan regions, parts of the Silk Road.

That's when I encountered the 'record-breaking' heat of my life.

In Turpan, where the Flaming Mountains are located, I finally understood what 'flame heat' was like. I could understand why the ancient Chinese novel 'Journey to the West' had a story about Sun Wukong borrowing a palm-leaf fan to extinguish the flames of the Flaming Mountains. It was natural that the mountain was named so, with its appearance and color evoking flames.

The guide told me the geothermal temperature exceeded 80℃, and I actually saw merchants selling eggs buried in the soil and cooked there. It was truly a 'flaming hell'. (It is said to be listed in the Guinness World Records as one of the hottest places on earth, with surface temperatures reaching as high as 89 degrees.)

In the desert, some people struggled as the soles of their shoes melted.

The daytime temperature in the city exceeded 50℃. At 1 AM in front of Turpan Station, the temperature of the strong winds that had crossed the desert exceeded 40℃.

If asked whether I would go again, well, I think I would need to think deeply. Back then, I didn't know what it would be like and went on a whim... It was already 10 years ago.

It wasn't as hot as that, but recently when the afternoon temperature was 35 degrees Celsius, I walked the 'Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path' on the west coast.

It was an outing with two colleagues—a high school senior and a classmate—to get some fresh air.

After briefly looking around the sea scenery at Gungpyeong Harbor, I moved my steps to the deck path heading north. It was because I wanted to see at least part of the 'Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path' that Hwaseong City had recently created.

The 'Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path' is a 17 km walking trail that follows the coastline of Hwaseong City, running from Jebu Island through Bakmae Harbor to Gungpyeong Harbor. It got its name because you can witness the magnificent spectacle of sunsets that bathe the sea and tidal flats in golden light as the sun sets.

Walking this trail allows you to enjoy the majestic and mesmerizing sunsets of the west coast, vast tidal flats, fishing village scenery, and lush maritime pine forests. In addition, you can feel the fresh sea breeze with your entire body and hear the stories of seagulls along this pleasant walking path.

Section 1 (5 km) is the 'Sunset Scenic Path' starting from Jebu Island, where you can enjoy coastal views while watching the sunset. Section 2 (4.5 km) is the 'Salt Sea Path' from Songyo Village where you walk above the sea, allowing you to enjoy the horizontal scenery of the sea and salt ponds. Section 3 (7.5 km) is developed as a 'Coastal Tourism Deck Path' in the Gungpyeong tourism area from Bakmae Harbor to Gungpyeong Harbor, with photo zones and other facilities.

Our group started at Section 3 from Gungpyeong Harbor.

Unable to endure the strong sunlight and heat, my friend stopped walking in the maritime pine forest and traveled by car, but the other two kept saying "let's go a bit further," "let's just go to that corner and come back," and eventually walked all the way to Bakmae Harbor.

But this path offered such magnificent scenery that it was worth enduring the scorching heat of 35 degrees. Even if not quite as spectacular as Geumgangsan's Haegeum Gorge or Samil Lake, it was a masterpiece of a trail that I would recommend people make time to walk through.

Of course, since it's not officially opened yet, directional signs showing the current location or the entire course have not been installed, but among the trails I've walked in recent years, it was definitely the best.

In fact, this trail has been quite famous among hiking enthusiasts even before the Golden Coastal Path was created. It was selected as one of 52 'pleasant coastal walking trails' by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

A Hwaseong City official explained that they invested considerable budget to create this trail to 'make it a representative marine tourism resource of our country.'

They also said they expect positive cyclical effects such as regional economic revitalization through tourist inflow and spending.

Although it's only a portion, my thoughts after actually walking part of the Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path were the same. Once this heat passes and autumn arrives, this trail will be crowded with visitors.

They will open their wallets as they rest at Gungpyeong Harbor, in Bakmae-ri, at Jebu Island, and at cafes and restaurants in the nearby villages.

Hwaseong City's plan is to make this trail not only a Hwaseong tourism resource but also a national and eventually global marine tourism destination.

Once the deficiencies are addressed and it officially opens, walking enthusiasts from all over the country, as well as the capital region, will flock to it. And the Hwaseong Golden Coastal Path will be recorded as one of Mayor Jung Myung-keun's major accomplishments.