[Harumanbo Harucheonja] A Festival of 'Taking It Easy' Running and Crossing the Hangang River Opens

An opportunity has arisen to cross the Han River, which was previously only accessible by car or subway, by swimming directly. A festival has been organized where people of all ages can freely swim across the Han River, walk, run, and ride bicycles to fully enjoy the river.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold the "1st Slow and Easy Han River Triathlon Festival" at Ttukseom Hangang Park from the 1st to the 2nd of next month. This comprehensive sports festival allows participants to walk and run along the Han River, swim in the river, and ride bicycles, creating a citizen experience festival that anyone can enjoy while feeling the charm of the riverside.

The main events are the three sports of running, cycling, and swimming, which are the disciplines of a triathlon. However, unlike the usual nonstop competitive "triathlon," this festival is designed around the concept of "slow and easy," allowing participants to choose courses according to their fitness levels and complete the three events?swimming, cycling, and running?over two days at their own pace and style in the "Slow and Easy Han River Triathlon." For the swimming event crossing the Han River, participants aged 13 and older can cross slowly while wearing life jackets and tubes.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who personally proposed the idea of this festival with the ambition to "make the city good for walking, running, and swimming across the Han River," explained, "You just need to complete crossing the Han River, running, and cycling within two days. You can cross the Han River in an hour or with a tube by your side. Just don’t take a boat."

In fact, the swimming courses are diverse, starting from a 200m beginner course held at the outdoor swimming pool in Ttukseom Hangang Park, designed for beginners, to a safe 300m Han River swimming experience course, and a 1km course crossing near Jamsil Bridge at the Jamsil Underwater Weir area. For running, participants can complete 5km or 10km courses by walking over several hours, and the cycling courses of 10km and 20km are similarly flexible. For those without bicycles, a Ddareungi rental station will be operated on-site to allow easy participation in the cycling event.

In addition to the triathlon events, Seoul will also prepare various citizen participation programs such as ▲kayak and paddleboard experiences ▲Challenge Bounce (large water playground) ▲Slow and Easy Han River Yoga ▲Han River Pool Meditation Time (garden meditation) for the general public.