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Han River (Korea)
Encyclopedia
The Han River is a major river in South Korea
and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman
, and Nakdong
rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River), which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River
(North Han River), which originates on the slopes of Mount Geumgang in North Korea
. The River flows through Seoul
and then merges with the Imjin River
shortly before it flows into the Yellow Sea
. The two major branches of the river, the Namhan River and the Bukhan River, come together at Yangsu-ri, Gyeonggi-do province, at which point it is referred to as the Han River. It then passes through Seoul and continues on to the Yellow Sea
(or West Sea to Koreans). Broad tidal flats can be found at the mouth of the Han River, where it meets the sea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone
that divides South and North Korea.
The total length of the Han River (to include its tributaries the Namhan and Bukhan Rivers) is approximately 514 kilometres (319.4 mi).
Although it is not a long river, the lower Han is remarkably broad for such a relatively short river. Within Seoul
city limits, the river is more than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide. Prior to the construction of a number of major dams, the river was known for its huge coefficient of river regime
(ratio between the maximum and minimum amount of flow) of 1:390. (For comparison, The Thames and the Rhine have coefficients of 1:8 and 1:18, respectively.)
The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea
strove to take control of this land, where the river 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
, barred for entrance by any civilian.
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.
Along the banks of the river, especially in Seoul, pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths are available on both sides of the river. Various restaurants and cafes are located on these paths. While most bridges crossing the Han are for motor vehicles or subways only, citizens may cross select bridges on foot or by bicycle.
In late 2011, Bundang Line
(Sincheongdam~Seoul Forest) will cross Han River by a tunnel
beneath the riverbed.
In 2017, Line 8
will open to extension that will cross the Han River.
In 2018 the Sin Bundang Line
will cross Han River by a tunnel
beneath the riverbed.
. The term "South Han" is understood irrespective of which side of the border one stands.
Even though "Namhan" and "Bukhan" are homophones with the acronyms Namhan and Bukhan , used commonly in South Korea, this is a mere coincidence. The hanja
for the Han River is not ("Korea") but (Chinese).
What is today called the Han River has been called by different names through the course of Korean history. During the period of the Han Commanderies
on the peninsula and the early part of the three kingdom's period the river was oft referred to as the Daesu . The state of Goguryeo
called it the Arisu , Baekje
called it the Ugniha , while the kingdom of Silla
termed it the Iha .
was the first to lay claim to the Han River, recognizing its strategic significance, as a primary waterway linking the central western region of the peninsula with the Yellow Sea
as well as for the river's fertile alluvial banks, a relative rarity on the mountainous peninsula. Namhan Fortress, located south of Seoul
, is posited as an early capital of Baekje. It was not long before the region near the effluence of the Han River with the Yellow Sea, around present day Seoul, became a bone of contention between Baekje and the rising kingdom of Goguryeo
. During the reign of its King Jangsu (r. 413-491) Goguryeo wrested the western terminus of the Han River from its rival Baekje. The ensuing decades would see a tug of war over the region until 551
when Baekje, in an alliance with Silla
, confirmed its control over the Han River basin. But this alliance was not to last, and in 553
Silla broke its alliance with Baekje to seize control of the entire river as part of its bid for domination of the peninsula.
With the demise of both Baekje and Goguryeo and then the unification of the peninsula under Silla in 668, the Han River entered its long era as a "Korean river", first under the control of Unified Silla
(668-918), then of the succeeding Goryeo
dynasty (918-1392), and finally as part of the Joseon
dynasty (1392-1910). During the Joseon period the Han River achieved new prominence as the primary waterway of the new Korean capital of Seoul
, or Hanyang
.
During the Korean War
, then South Korean President Syngman Rhee
fled Seoul to the south of the river, fearing the imminent occupation of the city by North Korean forces. In an attempt to slow their approach to the south of the river, the South Korean military destroyed the Han Bridge, along with the hopes of thousands of citizens of escape.
The Han River now belongs largely to the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, with its effluence in the Yellow Sea
a few nautical miles from North Korea
(though some of the river's tributaries are in North Korea). 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. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the Han River was the site of the Olympic rowing regatta.
From 2009 the Lee Myung Bak administration resuscitated a project to dig a canal linking the Han River with the Yellow Sea
at Incheon
. This forty kilometer Gyeongin
Canal will link the Han River near Gimpo in Seoul
to Incheon and is scheduled for completion in 2011. It will accommodate both large container and passenger vessels.
(Seoul
, Gyeonggi, Incheon
), South Korea
, are,
From the west to the east
• Ilsan Bridge; 일산대교
• Gimpo Bridge; 김포대교
• Haengju Bridge; 행주대교
• Banghwa Bridge; 방화대교
• Gayang Bridge; 가양대교
• Seongsan Bridge; 성산대교
• Yanghwa Bridge; 양화대교
• Dangsan Railway Bridge; 당산철교
• Seogang Bridge; 서강대교
• Mapo Bridge; 마포대교
• Wonhyo Bridge; 원효대교
• Hangang Railway Bridge; 한강철교
• Hangang Bridge; 한강대교
• Dongjak Bridge; 동작대교
• Banpo Bridge with Jamsu Bridge; 반포대교와 잠수교
• Hannam Bridge; 한남대교
• Dongho Bridge; 동호대교
• Seongsu Bridge; 성수대교
• Yeongdong Bridge; 영동대교
• Cheongdam Bridge; 청담대교
• Jamsil Bridge; 잠실대교
• Jamsil Railway Bridge; 잠실철교
• Olympic Bridge; 올림픽대교
• Cheonho Bridge; 천호대교
• Gwangjin Bridge; 광진교
• Gangdong Bridge; 강동대교
• Paldang Bridge; 팔당대교
Image:Seogang Bridge Seoul.jpg|Seogang Bridge
image:Seogang Bridge and Bukhansan from Bamseom.jpg|Seogang Bridge
Image:Looking east along the north bank of the Han from Seogang Bridge.jpg|Looking east along the north bank of the Han from Seogang Bridge
in normal traffic conditions
image:Donghodaegyo - It also carries Line 3.jpg|Dongho Bridge
Image:Olympic Bridge Seoul.jpg|Olympic Bridge
image:Olympic_Bridge_on_Hangang_river_Seoul_Korea.jpg|Olympic Bridge
Image:Seoul-Han.River-06.jpg|
Image:Seoul-Han.River-Yeoido-Bridge-01.jpg|
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman
Tumen River
The Tumen River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China, North Korea, and Russia, rising in Mount Baekdu and flowing into the Sea of Japan....
, and Nakdong
Nakdong River
The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...
rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River), which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River
Bukhan River
The Bukhan River is a tributary of the Han River that flows through both North and South Korea. It traverses Kangwon province in North Korea and Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces in South Korea....
(North Han River), which originates on the slopes of Mount Geumgang in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The River flows through Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and then merges with the Imjin River
Imjin River
The Imjin River is a river of North and South Korea. It flows from North to South, crossing the Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River downstream of Seoul, very near the Yellow Sea.- History :...
shortly before it flows into the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
. The two major branches of the river, the Namhan River and the Bukhan River, come together at Yangsu-ri, Gyeonggi-do province, at which point it is referred to as the Han River. It then passes through Seoul and continues on to the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
(or West Sea to Koreans). Broad tidal flats can be found at the mouth of the Han River, where it meets the sea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
that divides South and North Korea.
The total length of the Han River (to include its tributaries the Namhan and Bukhan Rivers) is approximately 514 kilometres (319.4 mi).
Although it is not a long river, the lower Han is remarkably broad for such a relatively short river. Within Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
city limits, the river is more than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide. Prior to the construction of a number of major dams, the river was known for its huge coefficient of river regime
River regime
River regime can describe one of two characteristics of a reach of an alluvial river:* The variability in its discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and drainage basin characteristics * A series of characteristic power-law...
(ratio between the maximum and minimum amount of flow) of 1:390. (For comparison, The Thames and the Rhine have coefficients of 1:8 and 1:18, respectively.)
The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route
Trade route
A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a single trade route contains long distance arteries which may further be connected to several smaller networks of commercial...
to China (via the Yellow Sea). However, the river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
is located at the borders of the two Koreas
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
, barred for entrance by any civilian.
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.
Along the banks of the river, especially in Seoul, pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths are available on both sides of the river. Various restaurants and cafes are located on these paths. While most bridges crossing the Han are for motor vehicles or subways only, citizens may cross select bridges on foot or by bicycle.
Subways crossing Han River
- Seoul Subway Line 1Seoul Subway Line 1Seoul Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, formerly known as the Korea National Railroad of Seoul, is an operation channel which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Asan via Suwon in the south. This line covers a large part...
(YongsanYongsan StationYongsan Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. It is located in Yongsan Gu, and adjoins the Yongsan Electronics Market. The station is the terminus for high-speed and long-distance trains on a number of railway lines, including most trains on the Honam Line, its high-speed...
~NoryangjinNoryangjin StationNoryangjin Station is a train station in central Seoul, South Korea. The station is located in the Noryangjin-dong of Dongjak-gu and is also a stop on Seoul Subway Line 1 and Seoul Subway Line 9...
) - Seoul Subway Line 2Seoul Subway Line 2Seoul Subway Line 2 is a circular line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The line running clockwise is called the "inner circle line" and the counter-clockwise line is called the "outer circle line." This is Seoul's most heavily used line, and the longest circular subway line in the world...
(GangbyeonGangbyeon StationGangbyeon Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 2. The name of this station literally means "riverside," pertaining to its proximity to the Han River.-Neighborhoods:*Techno Mart, shopping mall with movie theater and office building....
~Jamsillaru, DangsanDangsan StationDangsan Station is an elevated station on the Seoul Subway Line 2. The station is located on the south bank of the Han River in Yeongdeungpo-gu. Because the station is elevated, trains exiting to or entering from the north make use of the Dangsan Railway Bridge. As of April 2009, the platform has...
~HapjeongHapjeong StationHapjeong Station is a subterranean station of Seoul Subway Line 2 and Seoul Subway Line 6. The station is located just north of the Han River in Mapo-gu. The Line 2 platform has platform screen doors....
) - Seoul Subway Line 3Seoul Subway Line 3Seoul Subway Line 3 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is an operation system which connects Goyang, northwestern Seoul to the city center, Gangnam, and southeastern Seoul. Construction began in 1980, and most of the current line opened over two stages in 1985, along with Brother subway Line 4...
(OksuOksu StationOksu Station is a station on the Line 3 and Jungang Line. It is located near the confluence of the Han River and Jungnang River.The Line 3 part of Oksu Station is the only other station on Line 3 not underground. Yongsan-Deokso Line part was recently renovated with glass covered top using natural...
~ApgujeongApgujeong StationApgujeong Station is a rapid transit station on Seoul Subway Line 3. It is located in Apgujeong-dong in the Gangnam-gu administrative district of Seoul. It has a pair of underground side platforms. The station has connections to 15 buses through 6 exits. It services Sinsa-dong and...
) - Seoul Subway Line 4Seoul Subway Line 4Seoul Subway Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a long line crossing from the southwest to the northeast across the Seoul National Capital Area. The southern portion of the line is divided into the Gwacheon and Ansan Lines, but this does not affect the trains which run on it, most of...
(IchonIchon StationIchon Station is a station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on Seoul Subway Line 4 and Jungang Line. This station is the closest to the National Museum of Korea, situated in the interior of Yongsan Family Park...
~DongjakDongjak StationDongjak Station is a station on Line 4 and Line 9 of the Seoul Subway. Express trains on Line 9 stop at this station. This station serves the Seoul National Cemetery.-Vicinity:*Exit 1 : Banpo APT*Exit 2 : National Cemetery Parking Lot*Exit 3 : Isu Rotary...
) - Seoul Subway Line 5Seoul Subway Line 5Seoul Subway Line 5 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, dubbed the purple line, is a long line crossing from the west to the east across the Seoul National Capital Area, South Korea...
(YeouinaruYeouinaru StationYeouinaru Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 5. Because of having to cross the Han River by a deep tunnel and not by a rail bridge, Yeouinaru Station holds the distinction of being the lowest train station in South Korea with a depth of 90.4 feet below sea level.-Vicinity:*Exit 1 :...
~MapoMapo StationMapo Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 5. It is located close to the northeastern end of the Mapo Bridge....
, GwangnaruGwangnaru Station-Vicinity:*Exit 1 : Gwangjang Elementary and Middle Schools*Exit 2 : W Seoul Walkerhill, Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary*Exit 3 : Gwangnam Elementary, Middle & High Schools*Exit 4 : Yangjin Elementary & Middle SchoolsGwangjin Public Digital Library...
~CheonhoCheonho StationCheonho Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 8. Its secondary name is Pungnaptoseong, referring to the circular earthen wall of the same name that runs between this station and the southeastern end of the Olympic Bridge....
) - Seoul Subway Line 7Seoul Subway Line 7Seoul Subway Line 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation was built 1990-96 and was completed 1 August 2000 ; the western section between Sinpung and Onsu was put into service on 29 February 2000...
(Ttukseom ResortTtukseom Resort StationTtukseom Resort Station is a rapid transit station on Seoul Subway Line 7. It is located in Noyu-dong in the Gwangjin-gu administrative district of Seoul. It is the only station in South Korea to be located on the underside of a bridge, beneath Cheongdam Bridge. The station also runs underneath a...
~CheongdamCheongdam StationCheongdam Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 7. Wooridul Spine Hospital is located near the station.-Vicinity:*Exit 1 : Bongeun Elementary & Middle Schools*Exit 2 : Kyunggi High School, Bongeunsa*Exit 3 :*Exit 4 :*Exit 5 :*Exit 6 :...
)
In late 2011, Bundang Line
Bundang Line
Bundang Line is a commuter subway line of Korail, the national railway of South Korea. The name 'Bundang Line' refers to the fact that the line was constructed for the commuters of Bundang ward in Seongnam. The line starts in southeastern Seoul, travels through northern Seongnam, and finally...
(Sincheongdam~Seoul Forest) will cross Han River by a tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
beneath the riverbed.
In 2017, Line 8
Seoul Subway Line 8
Seoul Subway Line 8 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation was built 1990-99 and mainly serves the southeastern parts of Seoul and Seongnam. Jamsil to Amsa was opened July 1999....
will open to extension that will cross the Han River.
In 2018 the Sin Bundang Line
Sin Bundang Line
The Sin Bundang Line or DX Line is a 17.3 km long, wide-area rail line. It connects to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway...
will cross Han River by a tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
beneath the riverbed.
The name
The Namhangang (Namhan meaning 'South Han' and gang meaning 'river') is sometimes, but not always, referred to as the "Han" in South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The term "South Han" is understood irrespective of which side of the border one stands.
Even though "Namhan" and "Bukhan" are homophones with the acronyms Namhan and Bukhan , used commonly in South Korea, this is a mere coincidence. The hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
for the Han River is not ("Korea") but (Chinese).
What is today called the Han River has been called by different names through the course of Korean history. During the period of the Han Commanderies
Four Commanderies of Han
The Four Commanderies of Han are Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu and Zhenfan commanderies in northern Korean Peninsula and part of the Liaodong Peninsula. set up by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in early 2nd century BC after his conquest of Wiman Joseon...
on the peninsula and the early part of the three kingdom's period the river was oft referred to as the Daesu . The state of Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
called it the Arisu , Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
called it the Ugniha , while the kingdom of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
termed it the Iha .
History
The Han River has played a central role in Korean history from the earliest times. The kingdom of BaekjeBaekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
was the first to lay claim to the Han River, recognizing its strategic significance, as a primary waterway linking the central western region of the peninsula with the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
as well as for the river's fertile alluvial banks, a relative rarity on the mountainous peninsula. Namhan Fortress, located south of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, is posited as an early capital of Baekje. It was not long before the region near the effluence of the Han River with the Yellow Sea, around present day Seoul, became a bone of contention between Baekje and the rising kingdom of Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
. During the reign of its King Jangsu (r. 413-491) Goguryeo wrested the western terminus of the Han River from its rival Baekje. The ensuing decades would see a tug of war over the region until 551
551
Year 551 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 551 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Beirut is destroyed by an...
when Baekje, in an alliance with Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, confirmed its control over the Han River basin. But this alliance was not to last, and in 553
553
Year 553 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 553 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The Ostrogoth Kingdom is conquered by the...
Silla broke its alliance with Baekje to seize control of the entire river as part of its bid for domination of the peninsula.
With the demise of both Baekje and Goguryeo and then the unification of the peninsula under Silla in 668, the Han River entered its long era as a "Korean river", first under the control of Unified Silla
Unified Silla
Unified Silla or Later Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, when it conquered Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, unifying the southern portion of the Korean peninsula...
(668-918), then of the succeeding Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
dynasty (918-1392), and finally as part of the Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
dynasty (1392-1910). During the Joseon period the Han River achieved new prominence as the primary waterway of the new Korean capital of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, or Hanyang
Hanyang
Hanyang was one of the three cities that merged into modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, People's Republic of China. Currently, it is a district and stands between the Han River and the Yangtze River, where the former falls into the latter...
.
During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, then South Korean President Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
fled Seoul to the south of the river, fearing the imminent occupation of the city by North Korean forces. In an attempt to slow their approach to the south of the river, the South Korean military destroyed the Han Bridge, along with the hopes of thousands of citizens of escape.
The Han River now belongs largely to the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, with its effluence in the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
a few nautical miles from North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
(though some of the river's tributaries are in North Korea). 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. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the Han River was the site of the Olympic rowing regatta.
From 2009 the Lee Myung Bak administration resuscitated a project to dig a canal linking the Han River with the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
at Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
. This forty kilometer Gyeongin
Gyeongin
The name Gyeongin refers to the Seoul-Incheon corridor in South Korea, and is used as a name for the Gyeongin railway line, the Gyeongin Expressway, and the Gyeongin Canal , all of which link Seoul—the South Korean capital and largest city—to nearby Incheon—the second-largest port and...
Canal will link the Han River near Gimpo in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to Incheon and is scheduled for completion in 2011. It will accommodate both large container and passenger vessels.
Tributaries of the Han
Tributaries are listed in order from the mouth of the Han to the source. Subtributaries are listed accordingly.- GongneungcheonGongneungcheonGongneungcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Han River....
(곡능천) - NajinhacheonNajinhacheonNajinhacheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Han River....
(나진하천) - ChangneungcheonChangneungcheonChangneungcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Han River....
(창능천) - AnyangcheonAnyangcheonThe Anyangcheon is a river in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul, South Korea. It has its source on the slopes of Mount Gwanggyo in the city of Uiwang and flows north, through the city of Gunpo, where a major cleanup operation saw several species of birds return to the area in 2005. Here, though, the water...
(안양천)- DorimcheonDorimcheonThe Dorimcheon is a river in Seoul, South Korea. It has its source in the valley between Gwanaksan and Samseongsan in southern Seoul and flows north, past Seoul National University. From Sillim Station to Daerim Station, it is covered by Line 2 of the Seoul Subway, which is elevated above the...
(도림천)
- Dorimcheon
- JungnangcheonJungnangcheonJungnangcheon is a tributary of Seoul's Han River. It is generated in the valley of Dorak Mountain of Yangju, Gyeonggi-do. Cheonggyecheon is a tributary of Jungnangcheon....
(중랑천)- CheonggyecheonCheonggyecheonCheonggyecheon is an 8.4 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
(청계천)
- Cheonggyecheon
- TancheonTancheonTancheon, a tributary of Seoul's Han River, is a stream beginning in the city of Yongin in Gyeonggi-do and flowing through Seongnam and then between the districts of Songpa-gu and Gangnam-gu in Seoul before entering flowing into the Han River...
(탄천)- YangjaecheonYangjaecheonYangjaecheon is a stream that flows through the city of Seoul, South Korea. It runs through Gangnam, which is the southern half of the city....
(양재천) - YeosucheonYeosucheonYeosucheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Han River....
(여수천) - BundangcheonBundangcheonThe Bundangcheon is a short stream in Bundang, South Korea. Its source is the reservoir in Yul-dong Park and it then runs through Central Park , under the main road through Bundang, past Bundang Gu Office, to join the Tancheon.-See also:...
(분당천) - PungdeokcheonPungdeokcheonThe Pungdeokcheon, a tributary of the Tancheon, is a stream in Suji-gu in the city of Yongin, Gyeonggi-do. It joins the Tancheon from the west in Jukjeon....
(풍덕천)
- Yangjaecheon
- GyeongancheonGyeongancheonGyeongancheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Han River....
(경안천)- NeungwoncheonNeungwoncheonNeungwoncheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Gyeongancheon in the Han River system....
(능원천) - YangjicheonYangjicheonYangjicheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Gyeongancheon in the Han River system....
(양지천) - UnhakcheonUnhakcheonUnhakcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Gyeongancheon in the Han River system....
(운학천)
- Neungwoncheon
- Bukhan RiverBukhan RiverThe Bukhan River is a tributary of the Han River that flows through both North and South Korea. It traverses Kangwon province in North Korea and Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces in South Korea....
(북한강)- MunhocheonMunhocheonMunhocheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Bukhan River in the Han River system....
(문호천) - Hongcheon RiverHongcheon RiverHongcheon River is a river of South Korea and North Korea. It is a tributary of the Bukhan River in the Han River system....
(홍천강)- SandaecheonSandaecheonSandaecheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Hongcheon River in the Han River system....
(산대천) - DeoksancheonDeoksancheonDeoksancheon is a river of South Korea. It is a tributary of the Hongcheon River in the Han River system....
(덕산천)- SeongjeoncheonSeongjeoncheonSeongjeoncheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(성전천)
- Seongjeoncheon
- YasidaecheonYasidaecheonYasidaecheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(야시대천)
- Sandaecheon
- GapyeongcheonGapyeongcheonGapyeongcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(가평천) - Soyang RiverSoyang RiverSoyang River is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(소양강) - SanaecheonSanaecheonSanaecheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(사내천)- YongdamcheonYongdamcheonYongdamcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(용담천)
- Yongdamcheon
- MagunaemeoMagunaemeoMagunaemeo is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(마구내머)- MahyeoncheonMahyeoncheonMahyeoncheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(마현천) - BongocheonBongocheonBongocheon is a river of North Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(봉오천)
- Mahyeoncheon
- Munhocheon
- Namhan River (남한강)
- SinnaegaeulSinnaegaeulSinnaegaeul is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(신내개울)- HeukcheonHeukcheonHeukcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(흑천)
- Heukcheon
- YongdamcheonYongdamcheonYongdamcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(용담천) - BokhacheonBokhacheonBokhacheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(복하천)- JukdangcheonJukdangcheonJukdangcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(죽당천) - PyogocheonPyogocheonPyogocheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(표고천) - GwanricheonGwanricheonGwanricheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(관리천)
- Jukdangcheon
- YanghwacheonYanghwacheonYanghwacheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(양화천) - GeumdangcheonGeumdangcheonGeumdangcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(금당천) - CheongmicheonCheongmicheonCheongmicheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(청미천) - Seom RiverSeom RiverSeom River is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(섬강)- IricheonIricheonIricheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(이리천)
- Iricheon
- MokmicheonMokmicheonMokmicheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(목미천) - HwangsancheonHwangsancheonHwangsancheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(환산천) - GuryongcheonGuryongcheonGuryongcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(구룡천) - YeongdeokcheonYeongdeokcheonYeongdeokcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(영덕천) - DaejeoncheonDaejeoncheonDaejeoncheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(대전천) - DalcheonDalcheonDalcheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(달천)- YodocheonYodocheonYodocheon is a river of South Korea. It is a river of the Han River system....
(요도천)
- Yodocheon
- Dong River (동강)
- Sinnaegaeul
Bridges over the lower Han
A total of 27 bridges cross the Han River in Seoul National Capital AreaSeoul National Capital Area
The Seoul National Capital Area is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. It is generally referred to as Sudogwon in Korean, and contains three different administrative districts; Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do....
(Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Gyeonggi, Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
), South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, are,
From the west to the east
• Gimpo Bridge; 김포대교
• Haengju Bridge; 행주대교
• Banghwa Bridge; 방화대교
• Gayang Bridge; 가양대교
• Seongsan Bridge; 성산대교
• Yanghwa Bridge; 양화대교
• Dangsan Railway Bridge; 당산철교
• Seogang Bridge; 서강대교
• Mapo Bridge; 마포대교
• Wonhyo Bridge; 원효대교
• Hangang Railway Bridge; 한강철교
• Hangang Bridge; 한강대교
• Dongjak Bridge; 동작대교
• Banpo Bridge with Jamsu Bridge; 반포대교와 잠수교
• Hannam Bridge; 한남대교
• Dongho Bridge; 동호대교
• Seongsu Bridge; 성수대교
• Yeongdong Bridge; 영동대교
• Cheongdam Bridge; 청담대교
• Jamsil Bridge; 잠실대교
• Jamsil Railway Bridge; 잠실철교
• Olympic Bridge; 올림픽대교
• Cheonho Bridge; 천호대교
• Gwangjin Bridge; 광진교
• Gangdong Bridge; 강동대교
• Paldang Bridge; 팔당대교
Trivia
The Han River features as a location in several movies, notable films include :- The HostThe Host (film)The Host is a 2006 South Korean monster film, which also contains elements of comedy and drama films. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay, along with Baek Chul-hyun....
, in which the Wonhyo BridgeWonhyo BridgeThe Wonhyo Bridge crosses the Han River in South Korea and connects the districts of Yongsan-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu. The bridge was completed in 1981. It was the 13th to be built on the Han River.-References:...
plays an important part. - Castaway on the Moon, in which Bamseom (Bam island)BamseomBamseom is a pair of islets in the River Han in Seoul, South Korea. The uninhabited islets, with a total area of 241,000m² and length of 1,147 metres, are located between the larger island of Yeouido, to which they were once connected, and the north shore. They remain connected to one another by...
is the island the main character finds himself stranded on.
Gallery
Image:Seogang Bridge Seoul.jpg|Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge or Grand Seogang Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts. It is supported in the middle as it passes over the island of Bamseom....
image:Seogang Bridge and Bukhansan from Bamseom.jpg|Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge or Grand Seogang Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts. It is supported in the middle as it passes over the island of Bamseom....
Image:Looking east along the north bank of the Han from Seogang Bridge.jpg|Looking east along the north bank of the Han from Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge
Seogang Bridge or Grand Seogang Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts. It is supported in the middle as it passes over the island of Bamseom....
in normal traffic conditions
image:Donghodaegyo - It also carries Line 3.jpg|Dongho Bridge
Dongho Bridge
Dongho Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It carries road traffic and Seoul Subway Line 3, and Oksu Station is located at the northern end of this bridge....
Image:Olympic Bridge Seoul.jpg|Olympic Bridge
Olympic Bridge
Olympic Bridge or Grand Olympic Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Gwangjin and Songpa districts...
image:Olympic_Bridge_on_Hangang_river_Seoul_Korea.jpg|Olympic Bridge
Olympic Bridge
Olympic Bridge or Grand Olympic Bridge is a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The bridge links the Gwangjin and Songpa districts...
Image:Seoul-Han.River-06.jpg|
Image:Seoul-Han.River-Yeoido-Bridge-01.jpg|
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Rivers of Asia
- Rivers of KoreaRivers of KoreaThe Korean peninsula is mainly mountainous along its east coast, so most of its river water flows west, emptying into the Yellow Sea. Some of these rivers flow through lakes en route to the coast, but these are all artificial reservoirs, as there are no natural lakes on the Korean mainland...
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...
- Miracle on the Han RiverMiracle on the Han RiverMiracle on the Han River refers to South Korea's highly accelerated export-fueled economic growth, including rapid industrialization, technological achievement, education boom, exponential rise in living standards, rapid urbanization, skyscraper boom, modernization, successful hosting of the 1988...
- Hydraulic geoengineering (China region)
External links
- Hangang Citizen's Park operated by Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Korea Times article on the river's modern history
- Brief History of Hangang (River)