Despite fatal incident, Seoul unable to prevent swimming in Han River
A short distance from where swimmers enjoyed a Sunday morning swim in the Han River, a man had died just a week earlier, caught in a whirlpool created by a submerged weir. “Even the day before the incident, a couple of young people were swimming dangerously close to the sluice gates at the submerged weir,” said Sohn, 63, as he emerged from the river after swimming underneath Jamsil Bridge in…
Despite a fatal incident earlier this week, Seoul remains unable to prevent swimmers from venturing into the Han River. Just a week prior, a man in his 30s lost his life in a whirlpool created by a submerged weir near Jamsil Bridge. Sohn, a 63-year-old resident, recounted the incident while emerging from the river, noting that swimmers had been present dangerously close to the sluice gates before the tragedy.
Even as the city grapples with the aftermath, the Han River continues to attract casual swimmers. Sohn emphasized that this area is one of the few places where people can enjoy open-water swimming, a popular pastime following the rise of triathlons in recent years. However, the growing numbers pose significant safety concerns.
The submerged weir, located beneath Jamsil Bridge, is the culprit behind the fatal accident. Close to the swimming area, this structure controls the flow of water downstream, leading to potentially dangerous whirlpools. Despite the recent tragedy, Seoul has yet to implement any measures to curb open-water swimming in the Han River.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
