[Seoul's Future] The First Bridge Crossing the Han River, 'Hangang Cheolgyo'

Hannam Bridge Planned for Han River Crossing in Emergencies
Mapo Bridge as Political and Economic Hub of Yeouido
34 Bridges over Han River Including World Cup Bridge and Proposed Godeok Bridge

The first bridge to span the Han River was the Hangang Railway Bridge, completed on July 5, 1900. It was finished four years after American James Morse obtained the rights to build a bridge over the Han River and the Gyeongin Railway in March 1896. The construction of the Hangang Railway Bridge was considered a major event, often called the "transportation revolution of the Korean Peninsula." In September 1912, the second railway bridge was built, followed by additional railway bridges in June 1944 and December 1994, resulting in the current four railway bridges. The bridge constructed in 1994 was a restoration of the one destroyed during the Korean War.

The first pedestrian bridge was the Hangang Footbridge, completed on October 7, 1917, 17 years after the railway bridge was opened. It was rebuilt in 1936 into the current tied-arch style bridge but was destroyed during the Korean War. It was restored in 1958, and in February 1982, a twin bridge of the same form and scale was built next to the existing footbridge, creating twin bridges. In 1984, it was renamed Hangang Bridge (First Hangang Bridge).

Hangang Railroad Bridge. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Gwangjin Bridge, connecting Gwangjang-dong and Cheonho-dong, was completed in October 1936. It was destroyed during the Korean War and temporarily restored by the U.S. military in 1952. No bridges were built over the Han River until the early 1960s after that. The current bridge was completely demolished and rebuilt in November 2003. Gwangnaru, where Gwangjin Bridge is located, was a key point on the route from Chungju to Dongnae and from Wonju to the East Coast. In the 1920s, motorboats transported cargo trucks and buses, but frequent floods caused traffic disruptions lasting several days, prompting the construction of a bridge.

Yanghwa Bridge, known as the Second Hangang Bridge, appeared in 1965 as the third road bridge over the Han River. Connecting Hapjeong-dong and Dangsan-dong, Yanghwa Bridge serves as the western gateway of Seoul, shortening travel times to Yeongdeungpo, Incheon, and Gimpo Airport. It was expanded to eight lanes in 1982.

Hannam Bridge, famous as the "Third Hangang Bridge" from Hye Eun-yi's song, began construction in 1966 and opened in December 1969 alongside the Gyeongbu Expressway. Connecting Hannam-dong and Sinsa-dong, Hannam Bridge was built more for military necessity than the then-booming Gangnam development. It was planned for emergency use by Seoul citizens to cross the Han River, to avoid repeating the bitter experiences of crossing the river during the Korean War.

The old Seoul Bridge, Mapo Bridge, played a role in transforming Yeouido from a mere airfield into a political and economic center. Construction began in February 1968 and was completed in May 1970. Jamsil Bridge, completed in July 1972, connected the eastern outskirts of Seoul directly to the Gyeongbu Expressway and the Gangnam arterial roads such as Gyeongsu, Gyeongin, and Gimpo without passing through downtown Seoul.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain. Banpo Bridge is the world's largest bridge fountain and was listed in the Guinness World Records in 2008.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Yeongdong Bridge, completed in November 1973, was built to disperse the population of downtown Seoul and develop the Yeongdong district. Cheonho Bridge, completed in July 1976, connects Cheonggye Elevated Road and Cheonho-dong, reducing travel time from Gwanghwamun to Cheonho-dong to about 20 minutes by car. It was constructed as a replacement for the aging Gwangjin Bridge, which was no longer functional.

Jamsu Bridge, completed in 1976, and Banpo Bridge, completed in 1982 on the second level of Jamsu Bridge, promoted the development of the Gangnam district. Banpo Bridge was registered in the Guinness Book of Records in 2008 as the world's largest bridge fountain. A total of 380 nozzles were installed on both sides of the 570-meter section of Banpo Bridge, spanning 1,140 meters, designed to pump 190 tons of Han River water per minute through underwater pumps, spraying it 20 meters below back into the river.

Seongsu Bridge, which has a painful history of collapse and reconstruction, was completed in October 1979. It connects Wangsimni Rotary in Seongdong-gu to Apgujeong-dong in Gangnam-gu, linking to the southern arterial road of Seoul, the Nambu Beltway. However, it collapsed on October 21, 1994, becoming a symbol of poor construction. It was rebuilt in August 1997. Seongsan Bridge, connecting Seongsan-dong and Yanghwa-dong, was completed in June 1980. Its opening significantly reduced travel time from Gimpo Airport to Gwanghwamun from about 40 minutes to 20 minutes.

Seongsu Bridge with the middle section broken on October 21, 1994.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Wonhyo Bridge attracted attention as the first privately funded bridge. The construction company, Dong-A Construction, bore 22.5 billion won of construction costs, while Seoul City covered 2 billion won in compensation. Completed in October 1981, it was donated to Seoul City and became city property. Dong-A Construction was to collect tolls for 20 years. The bridge was free for the first month after opening, then tolls were charged, but due to negative public opinion, Dong-A Construction donated the bridge to Seoul City, making it toll-free again.

In December 1984, Dongho Bridge and Dongjak Bridge were completed. Dongho Bridge is a complex bridge that coexists with Subway Line 3, and Dongjak Bridge connects downtown Seoul with Gwacheon City, facilitating access to the Second Government Complex and serving as a supporting bridge for Subway Line 4.

The Olympic Bridge, the first concrete cable-stayed bridge in Korea, was built to commemorate the 1988 Olympics. Construction began in October 1985 and was completed in June 1990 as the 16th bridge over the Han River. Four concrete pillars in the middle of the bridge serve as 88-meter-high (1988) main towers, connected by 24 pairs of steel cables (representing the 24th Olympic Games). In 2001, a sculpture reminiscent of the Olympic flame was installed atop the main towers.

Other bridges over the Han River include Jamsil Railway Bridge (1979), Dangsan Railway Bridge (1983), Gangdong Bridge (1991), Haengju Bridge (1995), Paldang Bridge (1995), Gimpo Bridge (1997), Seogang Bridge (1999), Banghwa Bridge (2000), Cheongdam Bridge (2001), Gayang Bridge (2002), Ilsan Bridge (2008), Misa Bridge (2009), Magok Bridge (2010), Guri-Amsa Bridge (2015), World Cup Bridge (2021), and the planned Godeok Bridge (tentative name, scheduled to open in 2023), totaling 34 bridges over the Han River.