White sandy beaches disappear due to reckless coastal development and climate change

[Anchor]
Coastal erosion on the east coast is getting worse.

Although white sand has disappeared and coastal roads and buildings are threatened, fundamental measures are still insufficient.

Reporter Song Se-hyuk covered it.

[Reporter]
Hashidong and Anin Dune in Gangneung, which was formed 2,400 years ago
The erosion of the
coast led to the disappearance of the trail without even a trace, and a sand cliff more than 2 meters high was formed in its place.

This is the beach where the white sand beach once spread out several tens of meters wide. Although facilities are being installed to prevent erosion, the damage of sand being swept away continues.

The white sand is also being cut off from nearby beaches, threatening road and building safety.

According to a survey conducted by Gangwon-do Province, 66 beaches were severely or concerned about erosion.

The number has increased by 12 in just one year.

Reckless coastal development and climate change are cited as major causes of erosion.

It is analyzed that artificial structures such as breakwaters interfere with sand flow, and voluminous waves strengthened by climate change and rising sea levels increase damage.

The government spends tens of billions of won every year installing erosion reduction facilities, but the effect is minimal.

In fact, in the Green Alliance survey, 34 out of 54 beaches continued or intensified erosion even after the reduction facility was installed.

[Seo Jae-cheol / Green Korea Association expert: If we don't take a closer look at the effectiveness, it will be easy to pour water into the bottom of the jar]

The U.S. and the U.K. are responding to erosion problems with a focus on prevention through resident migration and restoration of buffer spaces.

[Kim Kyu-han/Professor of Civil Engineering at Catholic Kwandong University: Since we need to shift to prevention-oriented management, we need to predict the possibility of erosion through AI and data technology and come up with optimal measures....]

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is also belatedly pursuing a pilot project to secure buffer space, but there are only two beaches in the country.

I'm YTN's Song Sehyuk.



Filmmaker: Kim Dong-cheol Cho Eun-ki

Design: Lee Ga-eun