Seoul's Han River pools offer evening swims and city views

Seoul is offering residents a refreshing escape from the summer heat with its public swimming pools and water parks along the Han River. Six locations, Ttukseom, Yeouido, Jamsil, Gwangnaru, Nanji, and Yanghwa, will operate daily until August 30. Four of these, Ttukseom, Yeouido, Jamsil, and Nanji, have extended their hours, welcoming visitors until 10 p.m., allowing for evening swims after work.

Admission fees are set at 5,000 won for adults, 4,000 won for teenagers, and 3,000 won for children. Children under six enter for free with proof of age. Tickets can be purchased on-site or in advance through Naver Maps. This year, the city is not selling season passes.

The facilities offer diverse attractions catering to different preferences. Ttukseom boasts a lazy river, a 4-meter-high aqua ring, and a sunbathing area. Yeouido features water park-style amenities like an aqua ring with cascading water and a sunbathing deck. Jamsil, renovated last year, includes an infinity pool overlooking the Han River and a shallow children's pool. Nanji offers an infinity pool with direct river views and hosts a "Han River Music Pongdang" water music concert.

Other locations include Gwangnaru, which provides a natural water play area with views of the Am sa ecological park, and Yanghwa, suitable for families with a 0.8-meter-deep pool, a stream, and wooden deck seating. Last year, these Han River pools and water parks attracted over 550,000 visitors, a significant 77% increase from the previous year. The city is also promoting a "running + swimming" trend, where people run along the Han River before cooling off in the pools.