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Seoul Forest Quay to be relocated to Banpo

Posted November. 30, 2018 07:40,   

Updated November. 30, 2018 07:40

한국어

The Seoul Forest Quay, located in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu of Seoul, which has been neglected for the past six years, will be relocated to the Han River Park in Banpo, southern Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan government made the announcement on Thursday at the request of E-Land Cruise, the company who runs river cruises on the Han River.

E-Land Cruise will invest 150 million won to revamp, relocate and install the quay facilities to the southern part of the Banpo Bridge, which is near the water taxi platform. The former facilities will be taken apart towards year-end at the earliest and relocated in January next year, and the re-opening of the facilities is likely to take place by April next year. E-Land will devise detailed operation plans and submit to the Seoul metropolitan government.

The relocation of the quay is expected to diversify river cruise routes, which will promote the business. Without quay facilities in Banpo, all of the river cruises had to be devised to return from Banpo. Seocho district also appears to be welcoming the news. Another advantage of Banpo area is that it already has some tourism infrastructure that focuses around Sebit Island, which would be about 300 meters away from the new quay. Visitors can view fountains that sprout from the bridge at night, lighted in rainbow colors, except for winter.

The new quay also has potential to attract more foreign visitors. According to the Seoul metropolitan government, the number of river cruise tourists at the Han River as of end September this year stood at 350,0000, of which 100,000 were foreigners. “Sebit Island also requested the relocation, on grounds to attract more foreign visitors. The new quay is expected to induce new visitors and reduce operation costs,” said an official at the Seoul Metropolitan government.


Ki-Beom Kwon kaki@donga.com