Oh Se-hoon: "Drinking Han River water doesn't cause stomach upset... I drank it while swimming and had no problems"

Preparing for the 'Hangang Triathlon' this June, Oh Se-hoon
"My dream is to develop it like the Boston Marathon"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced his plan to participate in the 'Take It Easy Hangang Triathlon' to be held in June, saying, "You can even drink the water from the Hangang River while swimming without getting a stomachache."

On the 30th, Mayor Oh explained the Hangang triathlon event, which will take place over two days from June 1 to 2, in a video posted on his official YouTube channel, 'Oh Se-hoon TV.'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is swimming while participating in the '2023 Hangang Aquathlon Competition' held on the morning of October 8, 2023, along the Hangang River in Jamsil, Seoul.
[Photo by Seoul City]

He said, "Many people worry that swimming in the Hangang River causes skin diseases, but that is not true at all," adding, "From my experience swimming in the Hangang several times, I have had no skin problems."

Last October, Mayor Oh participated in the '2023 Hangang Renaissance Festival Aquathlon,' hosted by the Seoul Triathlon Association, challenging the challenge course (swimming 750m and running 5km).

Mayor Oh came up with the idea and planned the 'Take It Easy Hangang Triathlon,' which consists of swimming, cycling, and running events.

He explained, "You just need to complete crossing the Hangang River, running, and cycling within two days, June 1 and 2. You can cross the Hangang in one hour or five hours, or even float alongside a tube. Just don't take a boat."

In particular, to make this event a health festival, there will be designated spots for stretching, yoga, and muscle exercises between the three events.

Mayor Oh emphasized, "My goal is for thousands or tens of thousands of people from around the world to come to watch the ‘Take It Easy Hangang Triathlon,’ like the Boston Marathon. People should dream of swimming in the Hangang River, and that is why I keep leading by example."

Additionally, Mayor Oh predicted that the Climate Companion Card, an integrated public transportation pass allowing unlimited use of subways, buses, and Ddareungi bicycles for 30 days with a single charge, will benefit citizens' health.

He said, "This policy will have a significant positive impact on the health of Seoul citizens. Even if just a few dozen, a few hundred, or a few thousand people boldly switch from using private cars to saying, 'From today, I will use public transportation,' that would be truly great."

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