AusLeisure

A groundbreaking ceremony for what will be the world’s largest man-made surf park has been held at Siheung City, South Korea to commemorate the commencement of civil works on the project.

Scheduled to open in 2020, the ceremony was attended by more than 500 dignitaries and officials including the hosts responsible for bringing the project to life: Choi Sam-seob, the Director of the Wave Park; Lee Jae-myung, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province; Lim Byoung-taek, the Mayor of Siheung City; Lee Hak-soo, the President of Korea Water Resources Corporation; and Wavegarden’s Chief Commercial Officer, Fernando Odriozola.

Plans for the Siheung Surf Park - which includes a beach almost 1 kilometre long - were initially unveiled last November when the key parties signed a joint business agreement to turn this ambitious vision into reality. Business stage 1 will see the creation of Asia’s first Wavegarden Cove on a site covering 166,613 metre2, which is on track to open to the public in 2020.

In stage 2 of the development, the Daewon Plus Group, the investor of Wave park, will invest approximately US$2.3 billion to progressively construct a hotel, convention centre, marina, and ferris wheel. Siheung, a city formerly known for its industrial manufacturing business, will transform its venue into an epicenter for tourism and leisure, anticipating two million visitors per year.

Commenting on the start of the civil works, Odriozola stated “as could be expected, the ceremony was amazing.

“Our hosts are really embracing the sport of surfing and we’re confident that this Wavegarden project will become a mecca for surfing, not just for Koreans, but also for people throughout Asia."

Images: This week's groundbreaking ceremony (top) and the planned Turtle Island development (below).

Related Articles

15th April 2019 - Developer starts petition to back Perth Wave Park while looking at Adelaide location

7th February 2019 - World’s largest surfing lagoon to be built in South Korea

8th August 2018 - New artificial surfing attractions to open in Japan

18th July 2018 - Urbnsurf Perth development a step closer after Supreme Court win

26th March 2018 - Massive new integrated resort gets official opening on Korea’s Jeju Island

4th January 2018 - Sydney Olympic Park surfing attraction gains development approval

19th May 2017 - New generation artificial surf technology producing 1000 waves an hour

4th August 2016 - New sports confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

22nd January 2014 - Wavegarden technology to revolutionise artificial surfing

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.