 A large container ship departing from Gwangyang Bay passes under the Yi Sun-Sin Bridge, the fourth largest suspension bridge in the world. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Shim Hyun-chul
The construction of the world's fourth largest suspension bridge is underway in the southern port city of Yeosu in South Jeolla Province.
The bridge is named after the naval commander Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598), admired by Koreans for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897).
His main achievements include inventing the "Geobukseon" or "turtle ship" to defend the country against Japanese aggression.
The Yi Sun-Sin Bridge is expected to become the new landmark of Yeosu, the host of the 2012 World Expo.
The four-lane bridge has a total length of 2.26 km. The length between two main towers spans is 1.54 km, which is Korea’s largest and the world’s fourth longest suspension bridge after Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, China’s Shawman Bridge and Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge.
The bridge, connecting Yeosu and Gwangyang, is scheduled to open in October 2012.
Upon completion, Korea will emerge as the world’s sixth country with self-sufficient technologies in the building of suspension bridges.
