River Han

RIVER HAN

River of Life River Han / Hangang The Han River or Hangang (han means large, wide or long and gang means river) is South Korea’s fourth longest river. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River, which originates in Mount Daedeok in South Korea, and the Bukhan River, which originates on the slopes of Mount Geumgang in North Korea.

The river is known as the Han at the junction of the Namhan and the Bukhan at Yangsu-ri in Gyeonggi-do province.

From there, it flows through Seoul, South Korea’s capital city.

Although it is not a long river, the lower Han is remarkably broad and within Seoul city limits it is more than 1km wide. The Han merges with the Imjin River shortly before it flows into the Yellow Sea (or West Sea as it is known locally). There are broad tidal flats at the mouth of the Han where it meets the sea. This area falls into the DMZ (demilitarized zone) that divides South and North Korea.

Of its 319 mile (514km) length, 200 miles (320 km) are navigable, and it has been a valuable river transportation route since ancient times, particularly during the Yi dynasty (1392–1910). Various agricultural products are grown in its drainage basin. The Han supplies the cities along its course with water for industrial and general use. The river’s upper course, in the mountains, is used to generate hydroelectric power. In the 1970s three additional multipurpose dams were built at Yŏngwŏl, Tanyang, and Yŏju.

The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history and was used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea). However, the river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary is located at the borders of the two Koreas and is barred for entrance by any civilian.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River of Life Cheonggyecheon The Cheonggyecheon restoration project began in earnest in July 2003 with the demolition of a 5.8km stretch of elevated expressway that ran through the heart of the city of Seoul. The relandscaped stream, fed by water from nearby treatment plants, was opened just over 2 years later in September 2005 (see picture left).

The Cheonggyecheon has great historical significance to Soeul since it ran through the heart of the ancient city (see below left). At one time, 23 tributaries flowed into the Cheonggyecheon. For hundreds of years, the primary functions of these waterways were to provide water for washing and to dispose of sewage. But, despite continuous efforts to dredge and build restraining walls, the streams were susceptible to flooding during the annual rainy season. And when this happened, its water overflowed spreading filth and disease rapidly into densely populated areas.

Early in the 20th century, the decision was made to cover over the Cheonggyecheon although the disruption of the Second World War and then the Korean War prevented this plan being implemented. The stream became more polluted and unsightly and was eventually covered over in phases between 1958 and 1977. The construction of the Cheonggye Expressway between 1967 and 1971 along the course of the stream was widely seen as a symbol for the rapidly re-developing city and the area became Seoul’s major commercial district.

The speed and thoroughness of this modernization undermined the city’s identity and the Cheonggyecheon restoration project together with a series of other endeavours, notably around the Han River, are aimed at improving the urban environment, restoring forgotten history and culture, and establishing a unique character for Seoul.

The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon has had multiple effects in the urban fabric. Some 90,000 people visit the stream on an average day. The stream helps to cool the temperature in adjacent areas by up to 3.6°C, air pollution has dropped but adjacent land-values have soared. The number of vehicles entering downtown Seoul has shown a decrease of 2.3% and the numbers using buses has increased by 1.4% and subways by 4.3% - daily average of 430,000 people.

The key man behind the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon was the Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak. Through the project he become a nationally renowned figure and this undoubtedly helped him win the Korean presidency in 2007.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

Polluted River Arisu During the first few decades of South Korea’s existence the Han River became a byword for pollution, as burgeoning industry and an impoverished populace used it as a convenient spillway for industrial and urban refuse. Though it no longer plays a central role in commerce or transportation it is a prime fixture in the life of the South Korean capital and in the last decade has become the focus of government sponsored environmental efforts to clean it up and transform it into an ecological jewel of the capital.

While most people agree that the Han River is far better today than it was in the early 1980s, many are convinced that the river is still polluted. Floating garbage is an obvious indicator, but more ominous are the numbers of dead fish that float lazily down the river.

Most people who fish recreationally on the Han in Seoul release their catch, unless they are pungo, ingo (two species of carp) or chango (eel). The chango are often eaten, but the other two are usually taken home and made into medicine. The medicine made from the ingo is said to be good for women and fertility while the pungo are good for general well-being, especially for the elderly. Not surprisingly, chango are made into a medicine for male stamina, and more than a couple of "wise" old fishermen swear that it is better than dog meat. But how safe are these folk medicines, especially if the fish themselves are unhealthy?

Although most Seoul residents choose to drink bottled mineral water, it has been reported that Oh Se-hoon not only vouches for but drinks the city tap water.

Encouraging Seoul residents to drink tap water and reduce dependence on bottled water, as well as publicizing the cleanliness of Seoul tap water, has been a pet project for Oh Se-hoon, the current Mayor of Seoul. His term as Mayor is from July 2006 to June 2010.

Seoul City launched its program to expand the drinking of tap water among residents in Seoul because many of them have not trusted the quality of the city's tap water as drinking water. Many of them still think that piped water in Seoul is unsafe to drink due to old metal pipes and excessive amount of chlorine. In fact most of the pipes in Seoul were replaced in the last 20 years, and the chlorine level is under the strict control.

They distributed free samples of bottled Arisu and also carried out quality-control measures to test and certify tap water samples from homes. There was even a series of fun water-themed events called Arisu Festival as part of the 2008 Hi Seoul events.

A survey of 1,000 apartment units, conducted in 2004, showed that the percentage of respondents who use Arisu drawing directly form the tap without purifying it soared from the previous 2.4 percent to 11.3 percent, indicating a surging rate of increase in the number of households using tap water.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

Resourceful River Flooding Seoul is sometimes known as the Phoenix City because of its ability to recover from disaster.

Such disasters have usually been the result of military actions, most recently the Korean War, which completely destroyed the city.

Today's rebuilt Seoul lies only 20 miles south of the demilitarized zone with the People's Republic of Korea; the city exists in an uncertain political relationship with its flood- and famine-stricken northern neighbour. There have been fears, such as the 1986 Water Panic in South Korea, that North Korea could attack Seoul by releasing a flood from the upstream dam.

In August 1998 Seoul was afflicted with the worst rainfall in 80 years. Torrential rain in July 2003 inflicted huge damage in the centre of Seoul. Gwanghwarun, City Hall and Seosomun districts were all flooded. In July 2009, Jamsu Bridge over the Han (left) was closed after it was flooded following torrential rain.

Flooding is an increasing problem in metropolitan Seoul. During the past four decades, particularly serious floods occurred in 1972, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1990 and 2003. Early warning systems have helped reduce the number of casualties, but the number of people vulnerable to floods is increasing, not only due to growth in the urban population but also because the society is aging, which means more individuals at greater risk from the impact of frequent flash floods.

Among the residents of Seoul, flooding is most often attributed to failure of the pumping system that is the city's chief line of defense against inundation.

However, other analysts believe that a major reduction in the amount of green open spaces is contributing to increased flood risks.

The new Han River Renaissance scheme involves eliminating existing concrete embankments and reintroducing natural landscapes, effectively creating water meadows and this may help to alleviate the impact of any future flooding.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

Resourceful River Grand canal The Grand Korean Waterway, is a proposed 540kilometer (336 mile) long canal connecting Seoul and Busan, two of South Korea's largest cities. The canal would run diagonally across the country connecting the Han River to the Nakdong River, which flows through Busan and into the Korea Strait. The proposed canal would traverse difficult mountainous terrain.

The canal, a project of the current president of South Korea Lee Myung-bak, has met with controversy and disapproval. Lee argues that the canal will take freight off South Korea’s busy road system and boost tourism in the centre of the country. His detractors claim that even with the canal, road haulage would still be a cheaper option.

All that is needed to actually link the Han with the Nakdong is 40km of new canal.

However, the huge cost in the project is in dredging the two rivers and increasing the clearance of existing bridges to make for a navigable passage. Lee has suggested that the sale of the sand and gravel dredged from the rivers will help pay for the project. This dredging, he argues, will also make the rivers cleaner.

Many are still highly scecptical.

The proposal also includes a smaller 20km canal (Gyeongin Canal – see artist’s impression above) to create a new link between the Han River and the Yellow Sea at neighboring Incheon. It is believed that this will assist economic partnerships between the two cities, lessen traffic congestion, stimulate tourism, and provide Seoul navigable access to the Yellow Sea (West Sea). Currently the mouth of the Han River is in the DMZ (de-militarised zone) the no-mans land that seperates North Korea and South Korea. Economic activity in this area is limited for security reasons. This canal has been given the go ahead and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

When the canal is finished, and when the Han River has been dredged, the route via Incheon to Seoul will be able to accommodate both large container and passenger vessels. It is expected that the new canal will significantly increase tourism and trade with neighbouring China. In central Seoul there are plans for a new international sea ferry terminal in either Yongsan or Yeouido or two terminals in the two areas.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

Working River Han cruise

Since 1986, a small fleet of cruise ships has ferried passengers on one-way and roundtrip tours from piers along the riverfront. Despite being over one kilometer wide in places, the Han River is shallow and unfit for deep-hulled boats and navigation is limited to flat-bottomed barges and pleasure craft.

There has been talk of dredging the river so that larger craft can make their way from Inchon to the capital - utilizing the river once again as a source of transportation.

A boat cruise is one of the best ways to view Seoul's river front areas and, in the heat of the summer, the Han’s cooling breezes are a welcome relief. At night, the Han comes alive with glimmering lights and a unique atmosphere.

Currently there are six cruise boats, going from Yanghwa to Jamsil, and they all operate throughout the year. There are 4 places to get on or get off the ferries: at the Yeouido, Jamsil, Nanji, and Yanghwa docks. All rides run on two kinds of cruise schedules. One cruise leaves the dock, goes on the Han River cruise course, and comes back. The other course starts from either Yeouido, makes a stop at Ttukseom Island, then ends at Jamsil. The alternate route starts from Jamsil, makes a stop at Ttukseom Island, and finishes at Yeouido.

In addition to the standard sightseeing cruises, the boats can also be chartered for special events and parties. There’s an especially tacky “Pirates of the Caribbean”-themed boat, if that’s your thing.

As part of Seoul City Government’s Han Renaissance Plan, new types of river transport are envisaged like ‘Water taxis’ and ‘Amphibious buses’,

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Seoul Seoul (the name translates as ‘capital city’) is located on the Han River in the center of the Korean Peninsula. It is the capital and largest city of South Korea and has a population of about 11 million.

The earliest traces of urban settlement in this vicinity date from 2,000 years ago but, following a number of name changes, the settlement became known as Seoul and was capital of Korea at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). At that time it was surrounded by a massive 20 foot high circular wall to provide its citizens security from wild animals such as the tiger and from enemy attack. The gates were opened and closed each day, accompanied by the ringing of large bells.

In the late 19th century, after hundreds of years of isolation, Seoul opened up to foreigners and began to modernize. Seoul became the first city in East Asia to have electricity, trolley cars, running water, telephone, and telegraph systems all at the same time.

Much of this was due to trade with the United States.

The Korean peninsula was annexed by Japan in 1905 and in 1910, they made Seoul their colonial capital. It was under Japanese occupation until it was liberated in 1945 at the end of the Second World War when it was divided into Soviet and American occupied zones. Both North and South Korea claimed sovereignty over the peninsula as a whole and this led to the Korean War of 1950. A 1953 armistice ended the fighting; however, the two countries are officially still at war with each other, as a peace treaty was never signed.

The phrase ‘Miracle on the Han River’ refers to the period of highly accelerated economic growth from the ashes of the Korean War to the world’s 13th largest economy, something considered to be impossible by many at the time. In less than four decades, this “hopeless” city was completely transformed into a world leading global city, a centre of business and commerce in Asia and a highly developed economic hub. South Korea relies largely upon exports to fuel the growth of its economy, with finished products such as electronics, textiles, ships, automobiles, and steel being some of its most important exports. Samsung Group and Hyundai-Kia are massive conglomerates.

Today, the population of the Seoul area comprises 24% of the total population of South Korea. Seoul was the host city of the 1988 Olympic Games as well as one of the venues of the FIFA World Cup 2002. Seoul has the highest broadband internet penetration of any city in the world and it is a test-bed for futuristic IT and multimedia applications. Seoul is considered by many Koreans as a symbol of national pride and “can-do” spirit.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Han Renaissance Seoul City Government has recently released plans to improve the landscape and facilities along the Han and develop Seoul as a waterfront city. The city government is planning to invest a total of 672.6 billion won (ÂŁ360 million) in the master plan until 2010.

The city government plans to create waterfront towns in Magok and Yongsan and eight riverside development areas: Magok, Seobuichon-dong, Sangam, Yeouido, Banpo, Ttukseom, Jamsil and Ichon-dong.

According to the plan, sections of concrete riverbank will be dug up, the banks will be recontoured and planted with trees, shrubs and wild flowers. The Han’s city tributaries will also be relandscaped. The aim is to make these streams an inviting environment for fish and aquatic life.

The City Government aims to make the riverside more user-friendly by refurbishing pedestrian routes to the waterside and by creating direct links from the bus stops and subway stations. Roads leading to the Han will be more pedestrian-friendly with pavements separated from traffic lanes. There will be elevators from bus stops down to the embankment level. A system will also be introduced that allows visitors to use bicycles free of charge from subway stations, bus stops, or public facilities to get to the Hangang.

The riverside parks will be themed and will be enrichened with new facilities to encourage people to spend more time by the river.

Bridges will benefit from new digital lighting schemes. Guidelines for the design and landscaping of buildings alongside the Hangang will be introduced in an effort to improve the riverside landscape. There will even be a new Hangang Ecology Museum where visitors can learn about the ecosystem and history of the Hangang.

One of the first developments is located in the west of the city. Magok district is to get an environmentally friendly makeover with a new name (Eco Energy Town of the Future). The district is to transform into an energy efficient zone that'll boast some of the world's best technology. The project is to include a lake park and marina opening onto the Han River.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Banpo A total of 27 bridges cross the Han River in Seoul National Capital Area (Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon) and of these 23 are going through makeovers under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Han River Renaissance Project.

The most notable changes can be seen on Banpo Bridge.

Water nozzles spray some 190 tons of water per minute along over 1,000 meters of the bridge.

The seven afternoon and evening shows, each last about 20 minutes. The effect is of a waterfall coming off both sides of the bridge. The water jets can also “dance” in time to lighting from under the bridge, creating undulating patterns of water and light. The effect is especially dramatic when seen at night from the Han River Park on the south bank, with the lights of downtown Seoul and Seoul Tower in the background. The bridge itself is a double-decker, with a lower deck view something like being inside a waterfall.

Banpo Bridge’s lower deck, called Jamsu, has been pedestrianised with pavements, jogging courses and bicycle lanes. A 2,500 square-meter public park will be built at the southern side of the Jamsu/Banpo equipped with playgrounds and a water garden.

Aside from the Jamsu Bridge, city authorities are planning changes to five other bridges to make crossing easier for pedestrians. Through the end of 2008, the city government plans to remove one car lane from the Yanghwa, Mapo, Hangang, Dongjak and Hannam bridges and convert them into walkways. Cafe Rainbow is situated on the south bank by Hannam Bridge and from here, you can enjoy a panorama of the Han from a viewing deck on its fourth floor.

The City has been working with lighting designers to create new illumination systems for the bridges that span the river. ‘White Sea’ and ‘Korea in the World’ are the titles of the displays on the Hangang and Dongho bridges, respectively. To conserve energy, only half of the bridges are illuminated at any one time, and lowwattage, energy-efficient bulbs and cold cathode lamps have been installed. In fact, the daily cost for illuminating a bridge is just 33,000 won, which is less than £20.

A Floating Island (see concept illustration left) will be built in the river near Banpo.

When completed in September 2009, the Floating Island, composed of three artificial islands, will have facilities for performances and exhibitions as well as festivals and sports and leisure activities. The Floating Island will be designed in an eco-friendly fashion. Together with the renovated Jamsu Bridge and Jamsu Fountain, the hope is that this area will become be a new tourist destination. The islands will be connected to the park and to the Jamsu bridge and will be lit up with LED lights.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Seonyu Island Once upon a time, Seonyu Island (also known as Seonyubong) had a small peak and picturesque, jagged cliffs. This beautiful setting inspired wandering Confucian gentleman scholars, or seonbi, who came here during the Joseon Dynasty to paint and compose poetry.

Seonyu Island is a tranquil setting in the midst of the Han River and one of the world’s busiest cities.

But in a dramatic shift of fortune, this small island on the west side of the Han River had its mountain and cliffs removed during the Japanese occupation of Korea, and in 1978, it became the site of a sewage treatment plant. Twenty-three years later, the plant was shut down, and after two years of planning and restoration, Seonyu Island was transformed into a gorgeous, eco-consciousness park that opened in 2003.

The 110,000-square-meter park harmoniously combines the organic with the industrial by preserving the former treatment plant’s structures and integrating them into a series of gardens. Water is the island’s principle theme. For example, bygone settling basins for water treatment chemicals are now home to small fish and many species of aquatic plants that naturally purify water.

In a large, recessed area, rows of 15-foot tall supporting columns are wrapped in vines. These columns used to support a reservoir’s concrete slab roof, but today they stand roofless on a bed of small, smooth rocks. Nearby, there’s also a large hot-house chock full of plants with small, medium and large streams of water flowing all around.

Besides the gardens, a maze-like series of paths and bridges connects the park’s other components, including the Han River history museum, a 200-seat amphitheater, a greenhouse and the modest Cafeteria Naru, which offers snacks and a great view of the river below.

Since auto access to Seonyu Island is limited, most visitors reach it via an elegant 468-meter footbridge, nicknamed the Rainbow Bridge. It was designed by a French architect as a gift from France to the Republic of Korea. At night, vivid colors illuminate the bridge from below.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Yeouido Island At about 8.4 square kilometers, Yeouido is by far Seoul’s largest island. But despite its strategic location in the past it was thought to be worthless, since most of the island disappeared when the Han River frequently flooded. As a result, for centuries Yeouido was generally relegated to pastureland and peanut fields. The first major development didn’t occur until 1924, when the Japanese colonial government built Seoul’s first airport there.

Yeouido is now home to some of Korea’s largest broadcasters, banks and financial services companies, not to mention it’s the headquarters of Korea’s Stock Exchange and global giants like LG it is also the site of Seoul’s distinctive curved pink glass tower called the 63 Building. The Island is often called Korea’s Manhattan.

The island is completely surrounded by parks and, in Spring, the island hosts the Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. Every year, over four million people visit to enjoy performing arts companies from Korea and abroad and to see the azaleas, forsythias and cherry blossoms. The latter is by far the biggest draw. The pavement in Yoonjung-ro is flanked on both sides by mature cherry trees, which create a gorgeous 5.7-kilometer canopy of pale white blooms. It’s the best spot in Seoul to see cherry blossoms.

The image on the left is an artist’s rendering of a new bridge that will connect Yeouido’s west side to the mainland.

As part of the Han River Renaissance Project, the concrete walls that line the island’s riverbank are being removed in favor of a more natural environment. The park area on the island’s western side have already been almost completely removed and replaced with a park area. A green park will be built alongside Saetgang Stream. This park will be used as a place of outdoor learning for children and will become one of the must-see spots along the Hangang.

Seoul Colour Park opened recently near the south side of Mapo Bridge. The park is decorated with benches and various sculptures painted in colors that represent Seoul. The red symbolizes "dancheong" and is the colour traditionally used in Korean wooden buildings. The green symbolizes Namsan (Mount Nam) and the dark grey symbolizes the color of traditional tiled roofs. Yellow and white represent respectively, ginkgo leaves and the water of the Han River. These colours transform what was previously a dark space under the bridge into a unique, colorful resting place for citizens so that they can take a rest or spend time with their friends or family members.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River City Riverside Parks Prior to the 1988 Olympics, the banks of the river were bare and uninviting; shunned for the most part by the citizens of Seoul. But during the past two decades, the Han River and its banks have been transformed, through a series of grassy parks, into a beautiful sanctuary: an escape from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Seoul and the oppressive heat of summer.

12 riverside parks line the Han River. These 40 square kilometers of park lands are visited by nearly 60 million people annually, and ambitious efforts are underway to improve this already impressive network of green space in central Seoul.

One of the most popular river parks is the Banpo section. Located between the Banpo and Hannam bridges on the river’s south bank, the park was recently redone, with much of the natural vegetation removed in favor of expansive lawns, walking and bicycle trails, and a large play area for children. An inline skating rink and outdoor stages were also incorporated into the new design. A broad and attractive walkway was built linking it with the street and a wood-paneled tunnel dips under the riverside expressway, allowing easy access to the park. This being a riverside park, jet skis vy with water taxis and river cruise boats for primacy on the water.

Jamsil Park is endowed with numerous leisure and sports facilities including a nature education center. Ttukseom Park, or Gangbyeon Riverside Resort, includes a swimming pool, windsurfing, waterskiing and motorboating. Seonyudo Park has rustic gardens, a plant centre, an environmental playground, and a forest. Many fountains surround the Park, including the landmark World Cup Fountain. Nanji Park includes a camp site and there are rollerblading and cycle paths.

The river parks are calming places for a picnic on a hot summer day. And if you don’t want to lug food, you can flag down a fast food delivery man on his moped. In 30 minutes or less, you’ll have spicy fried chicken, pork bossam or any number of other delicious meals delivered to your picnic blanket.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River Culture Festivals & Events Seoul’s major cultural jamboree, the annual Hi Seoul Festival has four seasonal editions: Sprint, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Given the Han’s significance to Seoul, the festival often features riverrelated programming.

In 2007, the festival built two temporary bridges from Seonyu Island to the south bank, a distance of about 300m. The first was a reconstruction of the pontoon bridges built in the Joseon Dynasty. It was dressed and decorated in appropriate style and crossed by a procession in traditional costume and then opened up for the public to enjoy. The second was a ‘sunken bridge’ which gave people the chance to walk barefoot submerged at a depth of 30cm below the water line.

The festival also included a Lighted Boat Parade with a large lantern boat which towed smaller boats representing different countries of the world. And there was an International Tightrope Walking Competition across the Han to find the fastest person to walk the 1,000m distance.

In 2009, Hi Seoul Festival held events at Yeouido, Ttukseom Park and Seonyu Island. Amongst the canoeing and dragon boat racing there was 1st Hangang Birdman Contest (pictured below left) which challenged all comers to fly by whatever means across the Han. All of the Han River Parks except Gwangnaru, Gangseo and Seonyudo have boating facilities where sports such as windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, yachting, and dragon boating can be enjoyed. There are also outdoor swimming pools at Ttukseom, Yeouido, Gwangnaru, Mangwon, Jamwon, and Jamsil. All of these swimming pools have recently been upgraded.

During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the Han River was the site of the Olympic rowing regatta. Dragon boat racing has become popular at the Ichon section of Han River Park. A dragon boat is a long boat decorated with a dragon's head at the front and a dragon's tail at the back. Generally 22 people make one group. Twenty people paddle, one steers, and the other bangs a drum to keep the others in rhythm.

Windsurfing is one of the most popular activities you can enjoy at the Han. Ttukseom is home to about 60 windsurfing clubs, with 2,000 windsurfers flocking there over a good weekend. For those inclined to a more leisurely pace, motorboats, yachts, dinghies, canoes and kayaks are all available for hire.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org

RIVER HAN

River Culture Island transformations Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul, is hoping to emulate the iconic success of Sydney’s opera house with a state of the art, waterfront opera house of its own.

Nodeul Island, or The Han River Art Island as it is to be known, will be reborn as a giant arts complex after a 450 billion won (US$300 million) makeover. The Island will house two concert halls and an art gallery. However its most prominent feature will be the 1,785-seat opera house.

The Island is currently reached by land via a bridge but after the renovation opera fans and tourists will also be able to access the island by river boat and speed boat. The island will also have a ferry terminal and new foot bridge.

Seoul officials hope that the new opera house will be the jewel of the Han River.

Sydney took nearly three decades to build its opera house from inception to completion but Seoul will finish the Island by 2014, just shy of five years.

Seonyu Island (below left), which is west of the larger Yeouido Island, is another of the Han Rivers transformed islands. Seonyu used to have a small peak and picturesque cliffs and its beautiful setting inspired wandering Confucian scholars, or seonbi, who came to paint and compose poetry.

But in a dramatic shift of fortune its mountain and cliffs removed during the Japanese occupation of Korea, and in 1978, it became the site of a sewage treatment plant. Twentythree years later, the plant was shut down, and after two years of planning and restoration, Seonyu Island was transformed in 2003 into a gorgeous eco-park.

The 110,000-square-meter park harmoniously combines the organic with the industrial by preserving the former treatment plant’s structures and integrating them into a series of gardens. Water is the island’s principle theme. For example, bygone settling basins for water treatment chemicals are now fish tanks and feature many species of aquatic plants that naturally purify water.

Since access to Seonyu Island by car is limited, most visitors reach it via an elegant 468-meter footbridge, nicknamed the Rainbow Bridge. Its design, by a French architect, was a gift from France and at night the bridge is illuminated with a vivid colour scheme.

River Han was compiled by Adrian Evans in 2009 Rivers of the World is a Thames Festival project delivered in partnership with the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms with support from HSBC Global Education Programme www.riversoftheworld.org