When South Korea experienced its great economic rise, this phenomenon became known as the “Miracle on the Han River.” In fact, the Han river is the site of many interesting buildings and places. While they are not miracles per se, they do form a necklace of attractions that features highlights of Seoul’s metropolitan architecture together with sites to experience and enjoy nature and wildlife. The mighty Han River, one of the “Four great Waterways” of Korea, makes Seoul one of the few major metropolises in the world with a wide river running through its center: In many spots it is more than one kilometer wide and 32 bridges span the distance.

One of the most recognizable icons of modern architecture along the banks of the Han (“han” means “great”), is the shimmering golden “63-City” in Yeongdeungpo-gu. It was designed by the famous American architectural office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) and completed in 1985. It is one of the best known skyscrapers in Seoul, not least because it looks like a giant gold bar. It is also nicknamed the “golden tooth.” The tower is famous for its prime location on Yeouido Island, overlooking the Han River, but also because of its height of 249 meters, making it the tallest building outside North America and Korea’s tallest until the Hyperion Tower surpassed it in 2003. The name of the building refers to its 63 stories. The tower was completed in time for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games Seoul, held a little upstream along the Han River. The tower serves as the headquarters of insurance companies and Banks. The 58th and 59th floor feature restaurants and the 60th floor houses an observation deck that allows visitors to see as far as Incheon on clear days. Glass elevators along the Southern short side of the tower enable passengers to view the city as they ride up. The lower floors house a mall, an IMAX Theater, aquarium, convention center and banquet hall. The unique shape is created because the lower floors are wider than the upper ones, creating a gentle “skirt”-like shape.

Not far away, from the Golden Tooth, the striking blue dome of the National Assembly Building can be seen in Yeongdeungpo-gu. It was Chungup Kim, Joungsu Kim, Kwangnho Lee and Youngbae Ahn, who designed this building of national importance in 1975. It is the seat of the legislative branch of government. Previously, the government used the General-Government Building, a remnant from Japanese colonial times. With its 24 massive granite pillars and white exterior, the building visually dominates its neighborhood. It is the largest national assembly building in Asia. The building was an anchor for the urban development of Yeouido. The interior centers around the Rotunda Hall with the two main assembly halls on either side. A walking area with benches alongside the River becomes popular in spring, because it is lined with cherry trees. The Han is lined with walkways, bicycle paths, public parks with willows and locust trees. Poplar, Eastern cottonwood, lacebark elm, pin oak, birch. Around 70 species live in the Han River, including water deer, raccoon dogs, moles, otters, and lynx.

Further downstream on the Han River are the “Floating Islands” in Banpo Hangang Park. The three are “the world’s biggest faux islands,” tied to the mainland with 28 chains. The floating Island, near the southern end of Banpo Bridge, are known as “Sebit Dungdungseom” (“Three Floating Lantern Islands”). The flower-themed islets are called Vista, Viva and Terra, the stages of a blooming flower: a seed, bud, and blossom. Vista, the largest island, takes the form of a flower in full bloom and is a venue for performances, conferences and exhibitions. It is composed of layers of glass petals. and accommodates a hall for plays, concerts and festivals. Vista has a restaurant, firefly garden and observation deck. Viva looks like a flower bud and includes the Beat Square, Youth Woods, restaurants and an outdoor dance space. This island is characterized by an aluminum metal panel shell enclosed with petals. The diagonal patterning of the shell emphasizes the movement of the flower blooming. The smallest island, Terra, takes its form of a seed and has water sports facilities and a garden, clubhouse, and water slides that plunge into the river. The LED lights at night form the theme of ‘gleaming light in the mist.’ As part of the Han River Renaissance, initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, they stimulate the river landscape. The islands float via pontoons. In order to maintain stability against the fluctuating water levels in the monsoon season, the islands incorporate an automated mooring system. The angle and shape of the chains are controlled by Dynamic Positioning System to ensure stability. The construction required prefabricating the structure on the riverbanks, then launching it in the river, like launching a boat.

Along the river, an important historical site can be found in the shape of Jeoldusan Martyr’s Shrine in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, designed by the famous architect Heetae Lee in 1967. The Jeoldusan (or “beheading mountain”) is a rocky promontory overlooking the Han River. It once served as a lighthouse for the ferries on the river. The Martyr’s shrine dominates this hill next to Yanghwajin Foreigners’ Cemetery and is considered to be He-tae Lee’s architectural masterpiece. The hill came into use during the rule of the Daewon-gun in the late 1860s as a place of execution, primarily of Koreans who had converted to the Catholic faith. It was at this site that 8000 Catholics were tortured and killed during the Byeonin Persecution in 1866. The memorial was built in commemoration of the 100th anniversary. In 1984, Pope John Paul II visited the site. This shrine was built to commemorate the tragedy and a museum and memorial were added in 1967. The building contains a church above the shrine shaped like a gat, a Korean hat made of bamboo and horsehair. The corners of the eaves curve downward, giving it a characteristic silhouette. The chapel is designed to resemble a fan. A belfry connects the church and adjacent museum, which is surrounded by covered walkways held up by twin columns. The roof shape and the exposed-concrete belfry with a circular cut-out add to the site’s topography along the river.

A much more distant history is the theme of another interesting building along the river: The Baekje Museum in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu was designed by Yongmi Kim in 2012 and features the history and culture of the Baekje Kingdom. It displays relics not only from the Baekje Kingdom but also from the Goguryeo, Silla and other kingdoms that occupied the Han River basin. The exterior is designed like a sailing vessel to signify the maritime power of the ancient kingdom. The Baekje kingdom developed its power by trading with China and Japan via the Han River and the sea, thus the museum’s location by the river makes sense. During the “Three Kingdoms period,” the fortunes of nations were tied to the Han River basin for military and economic reasons. The importance of the Han River stemmed from agriculture and secure transportation for maritime trade with China. While the Han River no longer plays a role in cargo transportation, in 2025, “river bus” began servicing seven ferry piers while aggregate extraction excavated the riverbed deep enough for larger tour boats.