Although the Han River is not the longest river in South Korea, it is relatively well-known because of its location. However, there are technically two Han Rivers. One is the "Namhangang" (South Han River) and the other is the "Bukhangang" (You may have guessed it...North Han River.) Both originate in mountains in North and South Korea and come together to form what most people refer to as simply, "The Han River," which runs through South Korea's capital city. The Han runs into the Yellow Sea in the West, but not before passing by the DMZ.
Many cities in the world have rivers that run through them. Seoul has formed many river walks and parks in different spots throughout the capital and there are also festivals that are often held near the river.
If you take a taxi or a long distance bus towards the outskirts of Seoul, there is a good chance that you will cross one of they many bridges that go over this river. Seoul also has several subways that go over the river. It may not sound exciting, but especially at night or during a clear sunset, the view can be particularly breathtaking. The subways that cross the Han are as follows :
Line 1 : Yongsan <--> Noryangjin
Line 2 : Gangbyeon <--> Seongnae, Dangsan <--> Hapjeong
Line 3 : Oksu <--> Apgujeong
Line 4 : Ichon <--> Dongjak
Line 5 : Yeouinaru <--> Mapo, Gwangnaru <--> Cheonho
Line 7 : Ttukseom Resort <--> Cheongdam
Renting bikes at Yeouido park is pretty inexpensive. Expect to pay about 8,000 KRW for a tandem bicycle and a locker for one hour. There are bike trails that weave through the park and offer grassy knolls to pop a squat and enjoy some ice cream or just the company of your tandem bike partner.
To get to the Han River in this part of Seoul (Yeouido), take the purple line 5 to Yeouinaru Station and exit at gate 2 or 3. Directly upon exiting you will see the river!
