Seoul Marina gives berth
After two years of construction, Seoul Marina opens today on the banks of the Han River. Small boats are only 4,000 won (3.68 dollars) per hour. For a six-person day cruiser, Seoul Marina will charge 90,000 won per hour. By Oh Sang-min
Park Bong-nam regularly visits Yeouido Han River Park. The 55-year-old businessman likes to come on picnics here with his wife.
“I visit Yeouido Han River Park often because it’s the most comfortable place in Seoul to spend my free time,” Park said.
But Park, though an avid walker, wants do something on the water this summer. “If you visit Yeouido Han River Park, why wouldn’t you want to play in the water?” Park asked.
While water skiing, kayaking and pedal-boating have been popular leisure activities here for years, a new service begins that is causing quite a buzz in Seoul: Korea’s cheapest yacht rental service.
Yachting has long been the domain of the rich, something that ordinary people only had access to in the fictional realm of movies and television. Although yachting clubs exist in Korea, such as the Seoul Yacht Association, membership is required to have regular access to their boats.
“Yachting? I thought that was only for rich people,” Park said.
Not anymore.
After two years of construction, Seoul Marina opens today on the banks of the Han River.
Located behind the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul Marina is the first in the nation’s capital and is already the third-biggest in the country, with berths for 90 yachts.
Seoul Marina hopes its prices will help popularize the sport. For only 4,000 won ($3.68), you can rent a small three-person dinghy for an hour. For a six-person day cruiser, Seoul Marina will charge 90,000 won per hour. A spokesperson for Seoul said these are the cheapest rates in Korea.
To ensure the safety of boaters, the marina’s trained personnel will sail the boats. For those who want to captain the boats themselves, courses will be provided for adults and children.
Bring your bicycle
The concert Ggotnori Deun will be held tonight at 9 p.m. on the performance platform known as the Floating Stage.
The 1,000 won per person service gives people an alternative to the Han River’s busy automobile bridges and the bicycle bridge on Mapo Bridge.
Kang Young-soon cruises the Han River’s bike paths every morning. The 59-year-old said she is looking forward to riding the ferry.
“Now I can take a breather while moving from Yeouido to Mapo,” Kang said. Her friends, Kim Bok-soon and Park Sung-rae, are enthusiastic, too. The women, who are both over 60, admitted that there are times when they need a rest. “If we are feeling tired, I think we will have to take that ferry,” Park said.
Yeouido Han River Park is already well-known for its beautiful bike paths. The new Seoul Marina and ferry service are expected to make the park even more popular.
For decades, vendors have been offering bikes for hire along the river. Various types of bikes are available, including those for kids and tandem bikes. For more information, call Hangang Park Headquarters at (02) 3780-0864.
The seventh cherry blossom festival on Yeouido runs through Monday. Provided by Seoul City Government and Oh Sang-min
Events and festivals
The first-ever Seoul Boat Show opens today and runs through Tuesday. Organizers expect tens of thousands of people to stop by.
Visitors to the event will have access to dozens of exhibitions. About 20 yachts will be open to the public for photographs and tours.
The main event this weekend is the seventh annual cherry blossom festival on Yeouido. The popular flower festival is expected to draw over 100,000 Seoulites this weekend. The festival runs through Monday.
Aside from 14 kinds of flowers at the park, a variety of performances and exhibitions will be put on.
The park has long been a destination for lovers of all ages.
Jang Sang-min, a college student who visited Seoul Marina on Thursday, said he will visit Yeouido Han River Park again this weekend with his girlfriend.
“I think the whole park is an excellent dating place for couples,” Jang said. “Honestly, I did not know that the marina was going to open, but by following the cherry blossom street, I just got here by accident.”
Park administrators have come up with an innovative program they hope will attract more people like Jang. Visitors that collect all three stamps from designated booths will be given a free coffee or a waffle.
How to get here by subway
National Assembly Station, line No. 9, exit 1 or 5, walk 15 minutes
Dangsan Station, lines No. 2 and 9, exit 4, walk 15 minutes
Yeouinaru Station, line No. 5, exit 1, walk 20 minutes
For music lovers
A bubble-shaped performance platform known as the Floating Stage on the Han River behind Water Light Square offers free concerts to the public this month.
The concert Ggotnori Deun will be held tonight at 9 p.m.
The concert Rice Ball will start at 1 p.m. today featuring 2NB and Han Kyung-il. Before the concert, there will be a charity bazaar at 11 a.m. to help low-income families.
Tomorrow at 2 p.m., the Floating Stage welcomes artists Pafrica and Lee Sung-woo, who will put on a concert named Preview of Fairness. This show will promote charity work in Africa.
For more information on Seoul Marina, visit www.seoul-marina.com or call (02) 423-7888.
By Joo Kyung-don [kjoo@joongang.co.kr]
한글 관련 기사 [중앙일보]
4000원이면 한강서 요트 탄다
여의도 시민 요트나루 16일 문열어
한강에서 시간당 4000원의 요금으로 요트를 탈 수 있게 된다. 서울시는 오는 16일 국회의사당 뒤편 여의도한강공원에 90척의 요트를 정박할 수 있는 ‘여의도 시민요트나루(마리나)’를 개장한다고 7일 밝혔다. 정통 종합요트장으론 서울에서 처음으로 건설되는 것이다. 규모로는 부산 수영만과 화성 전곡항에 이어 세 번째다.
서울시는 선실이 없는 ‘딩기 요트’의 사용료로 1인당 1시간에 4000원을 책정했다. 6인용 ‘크루즈 요트’는 1시간에 1만5000원이다. 국내 요트장 평균 요금의 절반 수준이라는 게 서울시의 설명이다. 요트는 모터가 없이 돛으로 운항을 하며 전문 승무원이 탑승해 조작을 돕는다. 서울시는 또 출근길에 강·남북을 오가는 시민들을 위해 여의도 마리나와 망원한강공원 사이를 운항하는 ‘자전거 페리’도 운영한다. 요금은 1000원이다. 서울시는 여의도 마리나 개장을 기념해 16~19일 ‘2011 서울보트쇼’를 연다. 요트 이용 안내는 서울마리나 홈페이지(www.seoul-marina.com)에서 볼 수 있다.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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