Come May, residents of Seoul will have the chance to indulge in a variety of water leisure activities including windsurfing, paddleboarding, and yachting at Nanji Hangang Park situated in Mapo District, western Seoul.
Announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday, plans are underway to inaugurate the city’s largest water leisure sports center, boasting two marinas capable of accommodating a total of 155 vessels for communal use.
Presently, Seoul boasts around 3,000 registered water leisure vessels. However, the existing marinas along the Han River can only cater to 130 vessels. This shortage has led yacht owners to seek berths in other regions such as Gimpo or Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, or Yeongjong Island in Incheon.
One of the marinas, spanning an area of 2,600 square meters, will provide berthing space for 69 water leisure vessels including yachts and boats. Another marina, covering 5,000 square meters, will be constructed on the riverside adjacent to the first marina to offer storage for 86 boats and water leisure crafts.
In addition to berthing facilities, the center will offer educational programs on water leisure sports and various related activities.
Covering an area of 1,277 square meters, the center aims to make water leisure sports more accessible to visitors, offering instruction in windsurfing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Facilities on the first floor will include an education room, changing rooms, and shower facilities, while the second floor will serve as a relaxation area. Visitors will be treated to panoramic views of the Han River sunset from the rooftop.
To ensure the safety of the facilities, the city government has installed floating seawalls capable of withstanding strong waves and winds during floods or typhoons. These seawalls, stretching 90 meters in length and 3.9 meters in width, will provide protection for both vessels and users.
With attractions such as Nanji Campground, Seoul Battleship Park, and World Cup Park in close proximity, the city government anticipates Nanji Hangang Park to become a prominent tourist destination where visitors can engage in both tourism and leisure sports simultaneously.
Following the completion of final inspections of the interior and convenience facilities, the center will commence various water leisure education and experience programs for citizens starting in May.
Joo Yong-tae, director of the Future Hangang Project Headquarters at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, emphasized the center’s role in popularizing water leisure sports, which have lacked adequate infrastructure near the Han River in the past.
“We aim to transform the Han River into a central hub for water leisure activities through this center. Furthermore, we hope to establish the Han River as the premier destination for water leisure in Korea,” he stated.