[Anchor]

Beaches along the east coast of Gangwon Province are opening one after another. Although the opening is slightly later than last year, large crowds of vacationers flocked to the beaches on the very first day. However, monsoon rain is expected to sweep across the country starting tomorrow, July 5.

Reporter Jo Jaegeun has the story.

[Reporter]

The vast blue sea stretches out, with rows of parasols lining the shore as early vacationers dive into the water.

People are cooling off from the heat by riding inner tubes on the rolling waves and splashing around with friends.

The sight of motorboats cutting quickly through the water is enough to feel thrilling.

Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung has officially opened. While it opened six days later than last year, approximately 90,000 visitors arrived on the first day alone.

[Interview: Jung Young-mo, Jeon Myeong-jin, Kwon Yong-jin / Suwon, Gyeonggi-do: The weather was so cloudy in Suwon that we were honestly quite worried while driving here. But now that we are here, the sun is shining brightly, the sea is so clean, and it really feels wonderful.]

Sokcho Beach, which opened yesterday, also saw a large number of vacationers over the weekend.

Following the openings of Sokcho and Gyeongpo in Gangneung yesterday and today, the remaining beaches in the Gangwon region will open sequentially through next week.

A total of 690 safety personnel have been deployed across 86 beaches in Gangwon, and nets to prevent jellyfish and shark sightings have been installed at 51 locations.

Today, 108,000 people visited six beaches in Gangwon to enjoy the incoming waves and wash away the stress of daily life.

[Interview: Kim Hyung-hoon / Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do: The sea breeze is cool and the water is really refreshing, so it seems like the children can have a great time... I think I will be able to work hard when I return, and the kids will be able to attend their academies and school well.]

Monsoon rain is expected across the country tomorrow.

The rain, which will begin in Jeju Island, the southern regions, and Chungcheong Province, is forecast to expand to the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province by the afternoon.

Most parts of the country will see 20 to 60 mm of rain tomorrow, with some areas in the southern coastal regions receiving as much as 70 to 80 mm.

More than 150 mm of heavy rain is expected in the mountainous areas of Jeju Island.

The rain is expected to continue across the country on Monday as well.

(Video reporting: Kim Dae-cheol, Video editing: Choi Hye-young)