"Due to COVID-19" ... Seoul Hangang Park Swimming Pools Will Not Operate This Summer

Seoul City Decides Not to Operate After Postponing Opening Once in June

On July 12 last year, children visiting Ttukseom Hangang Park Swimming Pool in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, are cooling off by playing in the water. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 24th that it has made a final decision not to operate the swimming pools and water play areas in Hangang Park this summer due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The facilities not operating include three swimming pools at Ttukseom, Gwangnaru, and Yeouido, and two water play areas at Nanji and Yanghwa. The Jamsil, Jamwon, and Mangwon swimming pools are already closed this year due to renovations.

The Hangang Project Headquarters of Seoul City had planned to open the swimming pools and water play areas in Hangang Park from June 26 to August 23 as in previous years, but postponed the opening on June 19 due to the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area. Furthermore, as of mid-July, the spread of COVID-19 has not subsided, and considering the nature of the facilities, there are limitations in complying with quarantine rules, raising concerns about group infections. Taking all these factors comprehensively into account, this decision was made.

Shin Yong-mok, head of the Hangang Project Headquarters of Seoul City, said, "This decision was made with citizens' safety as the top priority," and added, "As this measure was taken as an extension of social distancing, we ask for the understanding of all citizens."

Meanwhile, the Hangang Project Headquarters has been sequentially reopening facilities within Hangang Park, such as Seoul Saenggakmaru, Seoul Ham Park, Gwangjin Bridge 8th Street, and Bamseom Ecological Experience Center, which had been closed since May 29, starting from July 22.

This action follows the 'Adjustment Plan for Strengthening Quarantine Measures in the Metropolitan Area' announced at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 19th. Each facility operates in strict compliance with quarantine guidelines including ▲designation and operation of quarantine managers ▲use of electronic logs or visitor record books ▲mandatory temperature checks ▲mask wearing ▲adjustment of the number of visitors (30~50%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.