Pohang Space Walk Explained

Pohang Space Walk
Other Language 1:포항 스페이스워크
Wikidata:Q124021455
Medium:Stainless steel
Height Metric:25
Width Metric:57
Length Metric:60
Metric Unit:m
Imperial Unit:ft
Weight:317 metric tons
City:Pohang, South Korea
Coordinates:36.065°N 129.3906°W
Owner:City of Pohang
Module:

Pohang Space Walk is a walkable sculpture located in Hwanho Park, Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It was completed on November 18, 2021 and opened to the public the following day. The original name for the structure was Cloud, and it received its current name before its completion.

The sculpture was created as part of a joint effort by the city of Pohang and South Korean steel company POSCO, in order to increase local tourism. It is meant to evoke a feeling of reaching utopia and "swimming in space above the clouds", as well as to symbolize aspects of Pohang's prominent manufacturing and steel industries.

It is now a popular tourist attraction. By the end of 2023, it had a total of over two million visitors. It has also won a number of awards, including the 2022 Structure of the Year award from the Korean Steel Structure Society and South Korea's "2023 Star of Tourism".

History

The city of Pohang and the company POSCO had previously collaborated on constructing Hwanho Park together in 2011. On April 1, 2019, a memorandum of understanding contract was signed between Pohang mayor Lee Kang-deok, president of POSCO Choi Jeong-woo, and the management of Hwanho Park.[1] According to the contract, a steel sculpture was to be constructed in Hwanho Park in order to make the park a recognizable symbol of Pohang. Furthermore, POSCO was to construct the steel parts for the sculpture and donate them to Pohang.[2] [3] The signing of the contract coincided with the 51st anniversary of POSCO's founding.[4]

Pohang Space Walk was designed by German designers, whom are married.[5] Genth had previously designed Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain, a similar interactive sculpture in Duisburg, Germany. The pair toured Pohang three times and used inspirations from various places they visited. They also consulted citizens and experts for ideas.[6]

Plans for the structure began to be drafted in September 2019. On April 23, 2020, the final design for the structure was revealed.[7] On January 19, POSCO officially received a permit to construct Pohang Space Walk, and had a projected completion date of August 2021. However, construction was temporarily halted on February 19 because something that was thought to be a fossil was found on the construction site.[8] The sculpture's construction did not resume until May 2021, which caused its projected completion date to be pushed back.[9]

On October 5, 2021, Lee and Genth conducted a preliminary inspection of the sculpture. By this point, the creation of the sculpture had cost a total of 11.7 billion South Korean won (around US$). On November 18, 2021, construction on the sculpture officially completed, and it had a soft opening ceremony.[10] [11] Lee, Genth, Choi, and around 70 people were in attendance.[12] An opening ceremony was held for the general public and POSCO employees on November 19, 2021. The opening ceremony featured a variety of amenities and activities, such as calligraphy, music, and photoshoots. On December 21, 2021, POSCO officially donated the sculpture to Pohang.[13]

From November 20 to the end of the year, the structure was open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends and public holidays. Starting from March 2022, the sculpture changed its hours to operate at 10 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 9 pm on weekends.[14]

Description

The track of the structure was made using 317 tons of POSCO-produced stainless steel (stainless in order to resist corrosion, as it is in humid conditions near an ocean). It has 333 meters of track, which is supposed to represent "Steel", "Science" and "Sea"—the three "S"'s of Pohang.[15] The structure is 60 meters wide, 57 meters long, and 25 meters high, and occupies 4,925 square meters of space. It has 717 steps in total.[16]

In accordance with legal requirements, the structure is meant to be able to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on the Richter scale. It can support up to 250 people at any given time. For safety reasons, if winds are faster than 8abbr=outNaNabbr=out or if there is severe rain, visitors cannot interact with the sculpture. At any time, visitors cannot walk through the looped part of the sculpture. It was reported in December 2021 that six guards protect the sculpture every day. From the highest point of the sculpture, visitors can see Yeongildae Beach and high rise apartments in the area.[17] Genth has since stated that the structure's name was originally going to be Cloud; in December 2021 it was reported that this name was still used by some locals.[18] The name Space Walk was eventually chosen because the structure is intended to evoke the feeling of "swimming in space above the clouds" for visitors. The structure is illuminated with lights, which Genth has stated is to mirror Pohang's status as a "city of light and steel". The sculpture is also supposed to represent challenging oneself to try to reach utopia one step at a time. The diverging tracks that reunite in the end represent the union of art and people, businesses and citizens, and POSCO and Pohang.[19]

Impact

Seventeen days after opening, Pohang Space Walk had seen a total of 41,723 visitors, with an average of around 2,450 visitors per day.[20] By December 20, 2021, it had a total of 76,724 visitors, with an average of 2,000 visitors on weekdays and 5,000 on weekends. By February 17, 2022, it had 210,000 total visitors.[21] By the end of 2023, it had over two million.[22] [23]

Pohang Space Walk was chosen as one of the Korean Steel Structure Society's Structures of the Year in 2022.[24] In 2023, Pohang Space Walk was listed in a list of 100 places to be experienced at night in South Korea,[25] and it received the "2023 Star of Tourism" in a survey conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korean Ministry of Recreation.[26]

The football club Pohang Steelers received new uniforms in 2024 with designs inspired by that of Pohang Space Walk.[27]

Gwangyang Space Walk

On May 9, 2022, Kim Jae-moo proposed building another similar Space Walk sculpture in the city of Gwangyang. Kim was then a Democratic Party of Korea politician running to be the mayor of Gwangyang, and thought that such a sculpture could boost tourism there. Like Pohang, Gwangyang has a prominent steel industry.[28] On October 6th, 2022, a contract was signed between POSCO and Gwangyang to create the structure at Gubongsan in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province.[29] From February 21 to 23, Gwangyang city officials visited Pohang Space Walk to learn about the structure and how it manages visitors.[30] A contest was held to decide the structure's design, with five artists producing nine designs. Spanish designer Manuel Alvarez-Monteserin Lahoz's design was chosen. Monteserin visited Gwangyang on January 16, 2024, and toured the city. He also visited various steel manufacturers there and in Pohang.[31] Gwangyang Space Walk is projected to be completed in 2025.[32]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 손 . 대성 . 2019-04-01 . 포항 환호공원 전국 명소 만든다…철재 조형물·해상케이블카 등 . Hwanho Park in Pohang to become popular nationwide by installing steel structures and cable cars . 2024-02-21 . . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222223227/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190401091900053?input=1195m . live .
  2. Web site: 김 . 대호 . November 14, 2021 . 포항 새 랜드마크된 '스페이스 워크'…국내 첫 체험형 조형물 . New Landmark in Pohang "Space Walk"... First Experiential Structure in South Korea . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226173542/https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2021111422393867156 . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . 매일신문 . ko.
  3. Web site: 박 . 영재 . October 5, 2021 . 이강덕 포항시장, 환호공원 명소화 공사 현장 점검 나서 . Pohang mayor Lee Kang-Deok checks construction field at Hwanho Park for operation of making park more famous . live . December 26, 2023 . 브레이크뉴스 . October 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005074054/https://www.breaknews.com/837755.
  4. Web site: 김 . 희정 . 2019-04-01 . 창립기념일 맞은 포스코, 포항시 환호공원 명소화 추진 . POSCO to start initiative to increase popularity of Hwanho Park during its founding anniversary . 2023-02-22 . 데일리안 . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222232848/https://www.dailian.co.kr/news/view/784077/?sc=naver . live .
  5. Web site: 장 . 경국 . October 5, 2021 . 포항시, 환호공원에 국내 최초 체험형 조형물 조성 순조 . Pohang City to erect first experiential structure in South Korea at Hwanho Park . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226171931/https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20211005010001749 . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . 종합일간지 . ko.
  6. Web site: 박 . 영재 . November 19, 2021 . 포항제철소, 시민들과 함께하는 스페이스 워크 Open Day 행사 '성료' . Pohang Steel Company's Space Walk ceremony with citizens concluded . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231228001104/http://www.breaknews.com/849512 . December 28, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . 브레이크뉴스.
  7. Web site: 김 . 대기 . 2020-09-24 . 포항시, 국내 첫 체험형 랜드마크 조형물 선보인다 . Pohang City to reveal first experiential structure in South Korea . 2024-02-29 . . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062056/https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5418064 . live .
  8. Web site: 황 . 영우 . 2021-03-30 . 문화재청, 포항 조형물 공원 공사현장 참관조사 . Cultural Heritage Administration to conduct investigation on Pohang structure's construction site . live . 2024-02-29 . 경북일보 . March 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210331235535/https://www.kyongbuk.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2072918 .
  9. Web site: 손 . 대성 . 2021-09-23 . 포항 상징조형물 '클라우드' 연말 완공…계획보다 4개월 지연 . Pohang structure "Cloud" to be finished at end of year - 4 months of delay expected . 2024-02-29 . . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062040/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20210923144100053?input=1195m . live .
  10. Web site: 손 . 대성 . November 15, 2021 . 포항 체험형 상징 조형물 '스페이스 워크' 18일 준공 . Experiential structure in Pohang, "Space Walk", to finish construction by 18th . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226173541/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211115034000053 . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . . ko.
  11. Web site: 김 . 경록 . 2021-11-17 . 사진으로 읽는 하루…18일 국내엔 무슨 일이?사진으로 읽는 하루…18일 국내엔 무슨 일이? . Photographical news of the day... what happened on the 18th? . live . 2024-02-29 . . March 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320154714/https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25024786 .
  12. Web site: 손 . 대성 . November 18, 2021 . 길이 333ｍ 국내 최대 체험형 철 조형물 포항에 들어서 . Inside the 333m-long experiential structure built of steel in Pohang, the largest in South Korea . live . December 26, 2023 . . ko . December 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226173542/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211118071500053.
  13. Web site: 장 . 경국 . December 21, 2021 . 포항시, 포스코의 상생·화합 상징, '스페이스 워크' 기부채납 받았다 . A symbol of cooperation between Pohang City and POSCO: "Space Walk" donated . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227034643/https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20211221010012498 . December 27, 2023 . December 27, 2023 . 종합일간지 . ko.
  14. Web site: 손 . 대성 . March 1, 2022 . 포항 체험조형물 '스페이스워크' 야간에도 운영 . Pohang experiential structure "Space Walk" to be open during night . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126200836/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220301050800053?input=1195m . January 26, 2024 . January 26, 2024 . Yonhap News.
  15. Web site: 김 . 병덕 . '빛과 철'로 빚은 포스코 도전정신… 시민과 하나되다 [국내 최대 체험형 조형물 '스페이스워크'] ]. Built with "Light and Steel" with POSCO's spirit... to be one with the citizens [Largest experiential structure in South Korea: Space Walk] . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226213602/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/014/0004746623?sid=101 . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . . ko.
  16. Web site: 김 . 진영 . February 10, 2022 . 포항 환호공원에 롤러코스터가? 아니 산책길 '스페이스워크' . Is that a rollercoaster in Pohang? No, it is a "Space Walk" . January 26, 2024 . 글로벌이코노믹 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126195623/https://www.g-enews.com/ko-kr/news/article/news_all/20220210173328615658ae4d6a0_1/article.html . live .
  17. Web site: 게 . 재일 . December 5, 2021 . 환호공원의 구름 길을 걷다 . To walk the streets of clouds at Hwanho Park . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227033743/http://www.kbmaeil.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=915650 . December 27, 2023 . December 27, 2023 . 경북매일 . ko.
  18. Web site: 주 . 진희 . November 19, 2021 . 포스코, 체험형 조형물 '스페이스워크' 완공···"국내 최대 규모" . POSCO finishes experiential structure "Space Walk" – "largest scale structure nationally" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226213603/http://www.seoulfn.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=438229 . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . 서울파이낸스 . ko.
  19. Web site: 오 . 주섭 . November 28, 2021 . 포항 환호공원 '스페이스 워크' 핫 플레이스 등극 . Hwanho Park's "Space Walk" is trending . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226213603/https://news.tf.co.kr/read/national/1902315.htm . December 26, 2023 . December 26, 2023 . 더팩트 . ko.
  20. Web site: 김 . 정혜 . December 8, 2021 . '9초에 한 명씩 밟았다' 포항 스페이스 워크 인기 . "One person stepped every 9 seconds" Pohang Space Walk becomes popular . December 27, 2023 . . ko-KR . December 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227033650/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2021120811230003476?t=20231227123312 . live.
  21. Web site: 김 . 동욱 . February 17, 2022 . 포스코 '스페이스워크' 누적 방문객 21만명… 포항 랜드마크로 우뚝 . POSCO's Pohang landmark "Space Walk" reaches 210,000 total visitors . January 25, 2024 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126200136/https://www.moneys.co.kr/article/2022021716388076179 . live .
  22. Web site: 강 . 진구 . December 24, 2023 . 포항시, 올해 10대 뉴스 발표…신성장 돌파구 마련 자평 . Pohang City announces this year’s top 10 news…Self-evaluation of new growth breakthrough . December 27, 2023 . . ko . December 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227155341/https://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20231224_0002569563 . live.
  23. Web site: 권 . 수진 . 2024-02-15 . 포항 핫플 스페이스워크 전망대 만들자 . Let's build a Space Walk at Pohang . 2024-03-01 . 대경일보 . March 1, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240301222612/https://www.dkilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=430998 . live .
  24. Web site: 최 . 지희 . June 8, 2022 . [2022년 한국강구조학회] 국내외 강구조물 3선 ]. [2022 Korean Steel Structure Society] 3 Structures of the Year from across the world chosen . January 26, 2024 . 대한경제 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126201915/https://www.dnews.co.kr/uhtml/view.jsp?idxno=202206070140445340576 . live .
  25. Web site: 이 . 영균 . November 8, 2023 . 포항시 '대한민국 밤밤곡곡 100선' 3곳 선정 . 3 places from Pohang City selected as part of list of 100 attractions to visit at night in South Korea . December 27, 2023 . . ko . December 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231228001155/https://www.segye.com/view/20231108524344 . live.
  26. Web site: 손 . 대성 . December 13, 2023 . 경주 대릉원-포항 스페이스워크 '한국 관광의 별'로 빛났다 . Gyeongju Daereungwon and Pohang Space Walk selected as ‘star of Korean tourism’ . December 27, 2023 . . ko . December 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227155342/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20231213091600053 . live.
  27. Web site: 이 . 진우 . 2024-02-16 . 롯데백화점 포항점, 포항스틸러스FC 유니폼 팝업스토어 진행 . Lotte Department Store at Pohang to sell Pohang Steelers uniforms at pop-up store . 2023-02-22 . inews24 . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222231706/https://www.inews24.com/view/1687713 . live .
  28. Web site: 송 . 덕만 . 2022-05-09 . 김재무 광양시장 후보, 철의 도시 상징물 '스페이스워크 설치' 공약 . Gwangyang mayor candidate Kim Jae-moo proposes building of Space Walk as symbol of steel industry . 2024-02-29 . 이뉴스투데이 . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062042/https://www.enewstoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1568701 . live .
  29. Web site: 송 . 덕만 . 2022-10-06 . 포스코, 광양 구봉산 명소화 랜드마크 체험형 '조형물' 건립 추진 . POSCO, Gwangyang sign contract to build experiential structure in Gubong Mountain to boost popularity . 2024-02-29 . 이뉴스투데이 . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062053/https://www.enewstoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1604546 . live .
  30. Web site: 유 . 대용 . 2023-02-23 . 광양시의회, 올해 첫 우수사례 벤치마킹 나서 . Gwangyang City Council went on first benchmarking operation of the year . live . 2024-02-29 . . February 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190459/https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5899989 .
  31. Web site: 김 . 성진 . 2024-02-02 . 포스코, 광양에도 '스페이스워크' 만든다..마누엘 몬테세린 내한 . POSCO to build Space Walk in Gwangyang based on Manuel Monteserin's design . 2024-02-29 . 이데일리 . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062058/https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01633446638786584&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y . live .
  32. Web site: 양 . 지욱 . 2024-02-02 . 포스코, 광양 구봉산 정상에 '철강 소재 조형물' 건립 . POSCO to construct steel sculpture on peak of Gubong Mountain . 2024-02-29 . 토요경제 . March 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307062044/https://sateconomy.co.kr/news/view/1065574342176573 . live .

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