Stroll across Han River in car-free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival
The annual Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival returns this month, inviting Seoulites to unplug from their routines and enjoy car-free strolls across the Han River.
Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival will run every Sunday from May 4 to July 22 near Jamsu Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park, both in Seoul.
Each Sunday, approximately 1.1 kilometers of Jamsu Bridge -- the submersible bridge spanning the Han River -- will be closed to traffic from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., transforming the space into a pedestrian-friendly zone.
This year's theme, 'Painting a romantic walk with two feet," encourages visitors to enjoy the lush riverside scenery and embrace slow living through leisurely walks and curated activities.
A crowd favorite, the 'space-out competition,' will return on May 11 at 4 p.m. Participants will compete to see who can stay most relaxed and idle -- a playful challenge in doing absolutely nothing.
On June 1, Jamsu Bridge will host its first-ever sports match above the Han River, as the fencing team under the Seoul City Hall holds an exhibition game on the bridge -- shaped uncannily like a fencing piste.
Additional highlights include a meditation session set to gugak, or traditional Korean music, and a sunset yoga class, scheduled for second and third Sundays of June, respectively, on Jamsu Bridge.
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