Sustainable Management of Erosive Shores: An Interdisciplinary Approach Integrating Engineering and Social Sciences at a Tide-Dominant Beach Area

This study investigates the causes and consequences of shoreline erosion at Kkotji Beach, a prominent tourist destination on the west coast of South Korea, where the degradation of the coastal environment has increasingly threatened the local tourism industry and economy, by employing a mixed-methods approach that combines field observations with MIKE 21 hydrodynamic simulations and by integrating perspectives from coastal engineering and the social sciences to develop practical, site-specific strategies for mitigating erosion, enhancing public awareness, and promoting sustainable coastal planning and development that support long-term environmental resilience and economic stability. The results show that dominant ebb currents drive southward sand transport, causing persistent northern erosion despite nourishment and highlighting the need for integrated management across engineering, policy, and community engagement.