The Banpo Bridge (Korean: 반포대교; Hanja: 盤浦大橋) is a major bridge located in central Seoul, South Korea and is easily accessible by public transportation. It is a double decker bridge and is the first double decker bridge in South Korea. [4]It is a major landmark and attracts locals and tourists .[5] It is situated over the Han River and connects two neighborhoods, the Seocho-dong on one side of the river withYongsan on the other side. The bridge was designed by South Korean architect, Kang Tae-wook.[6]Construction on the bridge began on August 11, 1980 and was completed on November 1982,[7] costing 22,000,000,000W to build which is equivalent to 20 million US dollars. The iconic architecture has won many awards, and at 1.4 kilometers long, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest fountain bridge in the world. [5] The bridge has the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, installed in September 2008, and is the world's longest bridge fountain. It uses ultramodern technology to create water patterns and choreographed movements, projecting images, such as cultural symbols and landmarks, onto the water screen with 10,000 LED lights and shooting out 190 tons of water per minute, 43 meters horizontally. The bridge has 38 water pumps and 380 nozzles on either side. [8] The fountain show is every night from April to October and usually lasts for 10-15 minutes. The bridge has two levels, the upper level is for vehicular traffic and the lower level, the Jamsu Bridge, is for pedestrian walkway and often hosts cultural events such as a yearly fall market with live music and food trucks. The northern side has several bike and skating ramps. The bridge was featured in several K-dramas, including "My Love from the Star." During periods of high rain fall, the lower level is designed to submerge as the water level of the river rises. In the past decade, the bridge has submerged every year, and the bridge and surrounding area is cleared of mud and silt shortly afterward. Banpo Bridge has been designated as a Cultural Heritage Site by the Korean government because it connects Seoul's southern area to Gangum. upper half of a double-deck bridge; it is the first double deck bridge built in South Korea.[4] During periods of high rainfall, the Jamsu Bridge is designed to submerge as the water level of the river rises, as the lower deck lies close to the waterline. In the past decade, the bridge has submerged every year, and the bridge and surrounding area is cleared of mud and silt shortly afterward.
Banpo Bridge 반포대교 Banpo daegyo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Night view of Banpo Bridge, Seoul. | |
| Coordinates | 37°30′56″N 126°59′46″E / 37.5155°N 126.9960°E |
| Crosses | Han River |
| Locale | Seoul, South Korea |
| Maintained by | Seoul Metropolitan Hangang Project Headquarters |
| Preceded by | Hannam Bridge |
| Followed by | Dongjak Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 1,495 m (4,905 ft)[1] |
| Width | 25 m (82 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Dae Han Consultants Company, Ltd. |
| Constructed by | Byucksan Engineering & Construction Company, Ltd.[2] |
| Construction start | January 11, 1980[2] |
| Construction end | June 25, 1982[2] |
| Construction cost | ₩21,500,000,000[2] |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 103,925 (2009)[3] |
| Location | |
 | |
| Banpo Bridge | |
| Hangul | 반포대교 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Banpo daegyo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Panp'o taegyo |
Banpo Bridge and Hangang Renaissance edit
The Banpo Bridge was built after redevelopment studies showed the value of urban waterfront space as a renewal project aimed at revitalizing the Han River area to improve tourism. The redevelopment has created recreational spaces and cultural facilities such as parks, concert halls, and galleries. [4] Seoul mayor, Oh Se-hoon says the Hangang Renaissance project aims to create the city's brand through the Han River and declared that the bridge will further beautify the city and showcase Seoul's eco-friendliness, as the water is pumped directly from the river itself and continuously recycled. The Rainbow Fountain represents South Korea's technological advances and creativity. The Banpo bridge has become a popular attraction for locals as well as tourists. It provides the locals with cultural exploration experiences and views of the city's skyline, and it combines education with entertainment. It is an immersive way for tourists to partake in traditional Korean culture and to also interact with locals. The renovation has proved to be a positive cultural and economic contribution to the revitalization of the Han River.
References edit
- ^ a b 반포대교[盤浦大橋]. Doopedia (in Korean). Doopedia. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d 토목사업 주요실적. Byucksan Engineering & Construction (in Korean). 2005. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c 반포대교 (盤浦大橋). Seoul Metro (in Korean). Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2000. Archived from the original on 18 June 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Cultural Exploration around Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, Seoul – Korea Trip Guide". 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "The Top 10 Modern Bridges to Inspire Quilters - The Banpo Bridge". The Quilt Show. 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "Banpo Grand Bridge". Structurae. Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
- ^ "달빛무지개분수(반포)" (in Korean). Seoul Metropolitan Government. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
