Han River (Korea)
Han River (Korean: 한강; RR: Hangang[e]) is a major river in South Korea, with some of its tributaries and drainage basin in North Korea. It is the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Yalu ("Amnok"), Tumen ("Tuman"), and Nakdong rivers.[7] The river begins as two smaller rivers in the eastern mountains of the Korean peninsula, which then converge near Seoul.
"Hangang" redirects here. For other uses, see Han River (disambiguation).Han River
South Korea (KOR), North Korea (PRK)
Gangwon (KOR), Gyeonggi (KOR), Seoul (KOR), North Hwanghae (PRK)
Geumdae Peak, Taebaek, Gangwon, South Korea[b][2]
Northwestern tip of Gimpo peninsula, KOR-PRK border[3]
508 km (316 mi)[4]
35,770 km2 (13,810 sq mi)[4]
Han(-)gang
Han'gang
The Han River and its surrounding area have played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea).[8] The river is no longer actively used for navigation because its estuary is located at the borders of the two Koreas, and civilian entry is barred.
The river serves as a water source for over 12 million South Koreans. In July 2000, the United States military admitted to having dumped formaldehyde in the sewer system connected to the river, which caused protests.[9]
The lower stretches of the Han River are lined with pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, public parks and restaurants, particularly in Seoul. In a 2011 survey conducted by Seoul Development Institute of 800 residents and 103 urban planning and architectural experts, 51% of residents and 69% of experts voted the river the second most scenic location in the city, following Mount Namsan in the top spot.[10]
Etymology[edit]
The hanja word for "Hangang" does not stand for 韓 ("Korea") but rather 漢 (Chinese). The reason behind this is because the meaning of the native Korean "han" (한), in this instance meaning "great" "large" "wide", was transliterated into Hanja with the character 漢 also meaning "large", thus showing the reason why the river used the word 漢 instead of 韓. It is also easily mistaken with the use of 漢 in Seoul's older name, "漢城" where 漢 does not refer to Chinese people, but refers to the idea of Seoul being the "walled city on the Han River." As a result, Koreans rarely use 漢 because 韓 and 漢 sound the same (han), but the meaning is 韓 (han, 한, "Korean"), not "Han Chinese".
The Han River has been called by different names through the course of Korean history. During the early part of the Three Kingdoms period the river was often referred to as the Daesu (대수; 帶水; "the Regional Waters"). The state of Goguryeo called it the Arisu (아리수; 阿利水; "The Gainful Waters"). Baekje called it the Ungniha (욱리하; 郁里河; "Fragrant Mile River"), while the kingdom of Silla termed it the Iha (이하; 泥河; "Muddy River").[11]