We’ve been trying to find a bit of balance between work and play lately since life in South Korea has opened up considerably from many of its Covid-related restrictions. Since masks are no longer mandatory outdoors, we’ve made it a priority to get outside as much as possible, and over a recent four-day weekend, we decided to tackle something off our bucket list and head to Pohang (포항시) for a quick trip. Now, Pohang isn’t really close to Camp Humphreys, but we really wanted to experience the Pohang Space Walk, so we decided to make a trip of it.
Visiting the Pohang Space Walk
First and foremost, Pohang isn’t a big name in terms of South Korean cities. It’s the main seaport in the Daegu-Gyongbuk region, but it’s primarily an area of industry and known mostly for its crabbing and seafood. So, why did we want to go to Pohang, you ask? A valid question. Pohang recently opened its Spacewalk, also known as the largest walkable art installation on the entire peninsula. You’re probably thinking…what? Honestly, we did too, but the pictures don’t lie.
At first glance, the Pohang Space Walk looks like a rollercoaster. Soaring 25 meters high, it features 717 steps and spans 333 meters in width, overlooking Pohang proper, as well as Youngil Bay and Youngildae Beach. It’s a newer attraction, but it’s supposedly extremely packed on weekends, so we scheduled our trip to visit on a Monday morning, and it was much more manageable in terms of crowds. Finding the address was no easy feat, but we navigated our way out there from our Airbnb (more on that later), and ventured to what honestly felt like a really obscure location.
What to Know About the Pohang Space Walk
The Space Walk was actually designed by German artists and resembles the original in Germany. Up to 250 people can experience the installation at once, and there is a guard at the entrance to limit the number of people at a time, as well as ensure only qualified visitors enter.
It was a really cool thing to experience, and it definitely felt like a very Korean thing to do. If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you know how I’ve professed that South Korea pours everything it has into its outdoor attractions (like Farm Kamille and the Mancheonha Skywalk) – and the Pohang Space Walk is absolutely no exception. The views are spectacular, the thing actually sways and wobbles a little bit (which is wild) as you walk, and it’s definitely one of those random things you can’t just experience anywhere. Would I go back? Probably not; it’s a one and done, but it was definitely cool.
Who Can Do the Pohang Space Walk
The Pohang Space Walk is not for everyone, unfortunately. They limit who can do the Pohang Space Walk as such:
- You must be at least 110 cm to climb the Space Walk (this meant Mieke couldn’t do it, so we did it in groups)
- You cannot wear carriers, so babies must be left at the bottom with an adult
- This is not an accessible attraction; if you can’t walk, you can’t enter
- You will have to turn in water bottles and loose items before entering
Here are a few other things to note about the Space Walk, as well:
- While it looks cool, note that you can’t actually enter that giant upside-down loop at the top. It’s blocked off, and you actually have to walk two separate sides that meet in the middle and look up to the inaccessible top loop. I’d honestly hoped it had be designed in a way that allowed walking without actually being upside-down, but no-go.
- There is a considerable little walk from the parking lot at the park to the Space Walk, itself. Parking is free.
- If you get vertigo easily, I wouldn’t recommend the Space Walk, as it definitely sways a bit in the breeze.
- If it is too windy, they will close the attraction.
- Admission is free, and it’s upon 10 AM – 8 PM M-F and 10 AM – 9 PM Sat – Sun.
Pohang Space Walk Address
Sold?! You want to visit the Pohang Space Walk? Even with its quirks, it was definitely worth the visit because when are we ever going to experience these distinctly South Korean attractions again? I had a bit of a hard time finding the Pohang Space Walk address in Hangul and English, so hopefully this helps someone else:
- Waze Address: Duho-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Naver/Kakoa Address: 경상북도 포항시 북구 환호공원길 30