[Seoul's Future] Banpo Water Rescue Team Protecting the Han River... "We Are United by a Sense of Mission"

Banpo Water Rescue Team Protecting Hangang Railway Bridge to Hannam Bridge
Always Ready for Dispatch... Alert Rescue Team Members
"We Want to Make Hangang a Space of Happiness"

On the 13th, I visited the Banpo Water Rescue Team in Seoul. As soon as a report came in, four rescue team members headed to the motorboat. Although it was a training exercise simulating a real situation, two of them immediately took control of the motorboat and started the engine. The other two put on 'dry suits,' which act as diving suits, at the rear of the motorboat. Despite the dry suits being tight-fitting and made of non-stretchable material, the rescue team members skillfully slipped their hands and feet into them. It took only 20 seconds to put on the dry suits. Meanwhile, the boat began racing toward the middle of the Han River. It took less than a minute to cover 1 km. Although the headwind was so strong that it was hard to keep their eyes open, the rescue team members stared intently at the Han River. Their heads were facing the water, ready to jump in if necessary.

The Banpo Water Rescue Team is one of four water rescue teams guarding a total of 41.5 km of the Han River, from Gangdong Bridge to Haengju Bridge. The Banpo team manages an approximately 8 km section from Hangang Railroad Bridge to Hannam Bridge. Including Kwon Tae-jin, the team leader who oversees the site, a total of six members work in shifts, monitoring the Han River 24 hours a day.

Although the river is usually peaceful, the rescue team members of Banpo are always on high alert because they never know when a report will come in. Surveillance is conducted at the Ttukseom Control Center. The center monitors incidents through closed-circuit TVs (CCTV) installed on 13 bridges and then issues dispatch orders to the relevant area. Once the dispatch order is given, they must reach the site within one minute. The entire water rescue team handles about 10 incidents on average per day.

When asked if they feel nervous when the dispatch order comes from the control center, Team Leader Kwon gave a hearty laugh. He said, "Rather than feeling nervous, I become calm. If we get nervous, it could lead to safety accidents among the rescue team members." The rescue team members conduct searches in pairs at the site. They do not just scan the surface but also dive wearing dry suits. Divers enter the water for 40 to 50 minutes and then rest for 10 minutes repeatedly. During the cold winter season, the time in the water is reduced to 20 minutes. With limited time and short breaks, the rescue team members face physical endurance challenges.

"When dispatch orders come, calmness over nervousness... Training even on days off"

Banpo Rescue Team Leader Kwon Tae-jin, Team 1 (Fire Lieutenant). Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Team Leader Kwon, a former special forces soldier, emphasizes that no one is invincible in front of water. If rescue team members get nervous or complacent, they can quickly find themselves in life-threatening situations. He stressed that the current of the Han River must never be underestimated. However, what is even harder than entering the water is watching the families of those who have slipped or jumped into the river. When the weather is bad and they cannot enter the water, they always feel sorry for the families who are anxiously pacing. Kwon said, "Even when the rescue team cannot do anything, seeing the grieving families torments me with guilt." He added, "Because of this, I usually avoid talking about work-related matters with my family at home. Once I leave the Banpo Water Rescue Team, it’s over."

In such situations, the rescue team members have become even more tightly bonded with a strong sense of duty. They hinted that they treat each other like older and younger brothers. Team Leader Kwon said, "If the rescue team members are not in sync emotionally, it’s not just difficult workplace dynamics but it can affect the rescue operations." He added, "We understand each other just by looking into each other's eyes." Furthermore, he said, "There is no additional credit for promotion for working in the water rescue team. Nevertheless, everyone volunteers because they share a strong sense of mission. Even on days off, they receive training to enhance their capabilities."

Citizens stepping up to help... "We want the Han River to be a place of complete relaxation"

Han River Banpo Rescue Team members. From the left: Fire Lieutenant Kwon Tae-jin, Lee Byung-ho, Park Jae-wook, Fire Sergeant Kim Hwan-joo. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

He also expressed gratitude for the help from citizens. When a danger is detected in the Han River, citizens actively report it. Although location tracking is assisted by base stations, the wide radius makes it difficult to immediately pinpoint the accident site. When citizens near the Han River explain the situation, the rescue team can quickly identify the accident location. Team Leader Kwon said, "The more accurately we know the accident location, the better we can conduct rescues within the golden time. When citizens actively help by reporting, the rescue becomes much easier. We are always thankful to the citizens."

Team Leader Kwon’s goal is to transform the Han River, which has been both a leisure space and a place of misfortune, into a place of happiness. He said, "I think the Han River is a space with dual aspects. Rather than having this duality, I want it to be known as a completely safe space where people can enjoy leisure. Many people already visit the Han River, but I will contribute to making it even more crowded safely. The rescue team members are the best in diving, so don’t worry."

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