The Transformation of Pohang: Steel City Heritage, Jukdo Seafood, Guryongpo Delicacies, and the Magic of Yeongildae Earthing

 

Introduction: The Korean Coastal City That Reinvented Itself

On the far eastern edge of South Korea lies Pohang, a city once known almost entirely for steel mills and roaring industrial smoke. Today, however, the story of Pohang is changing in the most unexpected way.

Decades ago, this was little more than a quiet fishing village facing the powerful waves of the East Sea. Everything changed in the 1970s when Park Tae-joon helped build POSCO on the sands of Yeongil Bay. The giant steelworks transformed Pohang into one of the engines behind South Korea’s economic miracle. Roads, bridges, skyscrapers, shipyards, and factories across the country were built with steel born from this coastal city.

But modern Pohang is no longer only about molten iron and industry.

Behind the image of steel lies another side of the city — one filled with fresh seafood markets, dramatic ocean landscapes, healing beaches, and quiet moments beside the sea. Pohang has slowly evolved into a place where industry and emotion coexist beautifully. It is a city where hardworking history meets deep healing.

And perhaps that is what makes Pohang unforgettable.

1. Jukdo Market: The Beating Heart of Pohang’s Seafood Culture

If POSCO built the economic backbone of Pohang, then Jukdo Market is the city’s living heartbeat.

The market began modestly after the Korean War, when small vendors gathered in what used to be marshland near the harbor. Today, it has grown into one of the largest seafood markets in all of eastern Korea, supplying fresh seafood not only to local residents but also to nearby cities including Daegu.

Before sunrise, the market already feels alive.

At four in the morning, fishing boats arrive carrying the treasures of the East Sea. Silver hairtail fish shimmer under fluorescent lights. Giant snow crabs pile high in blue baskets. Fresh octopus twists and curls in shallow tanks while restaurant owners negotiate loudly with fishermen who have barely slept.

Walking through Jukdo Market is an experience for every sense.

You hear the rough but warm dialect of local vendors echoing through narrow alleys. You smell hot broth simmering beside seafood stalls. Steam rises from freshly cooked pork and spicy fish soup while visitors sit shoulder to shoulder on tiny stools eating bowls of comforting soup against the chilly sea breeze.

This is not a polished tourist attraction pretending to be authentic.

This is real life in Pohang.

And somehow, that honesty is exactly what makes it beautiful.

2. Guryongpo Gwamegi and Homigot: The Taste and Symbol of Coastal Korea

Travel south from downtown Pohang and you eventually reach Guryongpo, a historic fishing port famous throughout Korea for one thing: gwamegi.

Gwamegi may look simple at first glance, but it represents generations of coastal tradition. Usually made from Pacific saury or herring, the fish is repeatedly dried and softened by the cold ocean wind during winter. The result is chewy, rich, savory, and deeply satisfying.

Locals wrap slices of gwamegi with seaweed, garlic, green chili, and vegetables before eating it in one perfect bite.

It tastes like winter beside the ocean.

Once considered a humble regional food, gwamegi has now become one of Pohang’s signature exports, reaching dinner tables far beyond Korea. Every winter, visitors flood Guryongpo searching for the authentic taste that locals proudly defend as the best in the country.

Further along the coastline stands one of Korea’s most iconic landmarks: Homigot Sunrise Square.

The massive “Hands of Harmony” sculpture rising from the sea has become a symbol of hope and unity. One hand reaches from the ocean while the other rises from land, facing each other across the waves. Every New Year’s Day, thousands gather here to witness Korea’s first sunrise.

In spring, fields of yellow canola flowers bloom near the coastline, creating a stunning contrast against the endless blue sea.

The combination of seafood culture, dramatic scenery, and symbolic beauty makes southern Pohang feel less like a simple coastal area and more like a living storybook.

3. Yeongildae Earthing: Falling in Love With the East Sea

Among all the beautiful places in Pohang, perhaps none captures the city’s emotional charm better than Yeongildae Beach.

The East Sea has a unique personality.

Unlike the muddy western coastline of Korea or the island-filled southern coast, the sea in Pohang stretches endlessly toward the horizon. There is something deeply calming about staring into that open blue distance.

And the colors constantly change.

Some mornings, the sea glows with deep cobalt blue. On cloudy afternoons, it turns soft turquoise with hints of green. At sunrise, sunlight dances across the water like thousands of silver fish swimming just beneath the surface.

It is impossible not to stop and stare.

Recently, another trend has transformed Yeongildae and nearby beaches: earthing, also known as barefoot walking on sand.

Every day, long lines of people walk slowly across the beach with bare feet touching the cool sand. Some come for health reasons. Others come for peace of mind. The waves gently brush against their ankles while the rhythm of the ocean quiets the noise inside their heads.

For many locals, earthing has become more than exercise.

It has become therapy.

Young couples stroll along the shoreline at sunset. Elderly residents walk carefully through the sand every morning. Travelers sit quietly listening to the waves without speaking for long stretches of time.

Pohang no longer feels like a city rushing toward industrial success.

It feels like a city learning how to breathe again.

Conclusion: From Steel City to Healing City

Pohang carries the pride of helping build modern South Korea, but it is no longer defined only by factories and steel.

Today, the city offers something much richer.

The energy of Jukdo Market, the unforgettable taste of Guryongpo gwamegi, the symbolic beauty of Homigot, and the healing atmosphere of Yeongildae Beach together create a destination unlike anywhere else in Korea.

Very few cities manage to balance industrial history and natural beauty so naturally.

Pohang does.

It is a place where people worked fiercely to build a nation, yet still found room to pause beside the sea and rediscover peace. That contrast gives the city its soul.

And perhaps that is why visitors leave Pohang carrying something deeper than photographs.

They leave carrying a feeling.

[Jenna’s Thoughts]: The Miracle I Meet Every Day in Pohang

Living in Pohang has taught me something simple but powerful.

No matter how difficult life becomes, the sea is always waiting.

Every morning, I wake up and look toward the ocean, and somehow the water never looks the same twice. Some days it feels wild and fearless. Other days it feels gentle enough to comfort every tired part of my heart.

The colors still amaze me.

Sometimes the sea turns deep cobalt blue. Sometimes it carries soft turquoise tones mixed with green. And when sunlight scatters across the surface in the early morning, it sparkles like countless silver fish dancing above the waves.

Honestly, there are moments when the beauty feels almost unreal.

I began practicing earthing on the beach because of my health. At first, it was simply a small daily habit. But over time, barefoot walking beside the sea slowly restored both my body and my mind. Now it has become part of my life.

Watching countless people walk barefoot along the white sands of Yeongildae makes me reflect on what truly matters.

For many years, Pohang raced forward chasing growth and success. But now the city seems to be learning how to pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature again.

Maybe our lives should become a little more like the sea in Pohang.

Work passionately. Let go completely. And rise blue and beautiful once again.

If you ever visit Korea’s eastern coast, I hope you will come here too.

Because Pohang is always waiting beside the sea.