SOUTH KOREA 11


weak sailing culture and lack of experience in the construction and management of modern boating facilities has been a major hurdle in moving the industry forward at a faster rate.


Marina development Although slow at present, progress is coming. The opening of Wangsan Marina, a contemporary boating facility close to Incheon International Airport, is opening the door to boating for many Koreans, who did not have the opportunity before. Prior to the opening of Wangsan, there were no large scale marinas in or around Seoul’s major metropolitan area. With 266 moorings and a dock facility to match the world’s most modern marinas, Wangsan is expected to have a major impact on the market and be a key force in setting a new standard for boating facilities in South Korea.


The concept for Wangsan


Marina was to build a start-of-the- art competitive sailing venue for the 2014 Asian Games that could


later serve as a public marina with amenities and services that would cater to domestic boat-owners, as well as international sailors.


Master plan Wangsan’s master plan called for the development of a mixed use space that would include hospitality, retail, housing and other entertainment businesses to create a marina-orientated destination within the context of the planned Yongyu-Muui Tourism Complex. After more than two years of


construction, Wangsan Marina opened in October, 2014, just in time to greet the sailing teams competing in the 2014 Asian Games. Located in the Yellow Sea,


between the Korean Peninsula and China, Wangsan is just an hour’s drive outside the city of Seoul. The site experiences ten metre tides and strong currents. The main breakwater at Wangsan was placed parallel to the shoreline with openings on both sides to help the flow of water, which runs at around three to four knots when changing from high to low tide. The extreme tidal range and


heavy current at the site combined with the vision for the marina as a destination for yachts up to 156 ft required a heavy duty pontoon system that was durable, stable and technologically-advanced. The dock and piling system had to be custom-engineered to meet the


Aerial view of Wangsan Marina, a contemporary boating facility in Incheon.


unique performance and loading specifications of the project. The state-of-the-art concrete


pontoons for the Wangsan project were designed and engineered by Bellingham Marine’s dock system engineering team in Australia. The float modules were manufactured by the company’s South Korean partner, CKIPM, at its facility just South of Seoul. All components for the marina’s pontoons were transported by barge via the Guimpo canal to the site. Installation of the floating docks began in February, 2014, and was completed by October that year.


Conclusion From a cultural point of view, Asian people in general and Koreans in particular, have historically worked hard and the majority of the population had very limited free time for leisure. As economic development in the region has increased wealth, this culture is changing and there is now a growing demand to participate in sporting and social activities. Boating, either with a partner


or on a larger boat crewed by friends, not only satisfies the need for healthy outdoor activity, but South Koreans are finding that membership of a marina’s yacht club also ensures a good social life.


NOVEMBER 2016 • MARINA ASIA-PACIFIC


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