Everyday life1 min read
Evenings by the Han River
Bikes, convenience-store ramyeon and the rainbow fountain at Banpo Bridge. Why the river parks are where Seoul goes to relax.
If you ask people in Seoul where they go after work, many will say 한강, the Han River. The river runs right through the city, and both banks are lined with parks: 한강공원.
Bikes and picnics
You can rent a bike for a couple of hours and ride along the water for kilometres. On warm evenings the grass fills with mats, delivery chicken and friends talking until late.
오늘 한강 갈래? Want to go to the Han River today?
That one sentence is how most of my summer plans start.
Ramyeon by the river
Every park has a convenience store with a ramyeon machine. You buy a cup, the machine pours hot water, and you eat it outside looking at the bridges. It’s simple, cheap and somehow tastes better than at home.
The rainbow fountain
From spring to autumn, Banpo Bridge turns into a fountain in the evening. Water pours from both sides of the bridge, with music and coloured lights.
Come twenty minutes early and sit on the steps of Banpo Hangang Park. You’ll hear a lot of relaxed, everyday Korean around you, which is great listening practice.
Useful words
- 자전거를 빌리다 – to rent a bike
- 돗자리 – a picnic mat
- 편의점 – a convenience store
- 분수 – a fountain
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.