Slow and steady: Seoul’s leisurely Han River triathlon festival returns

A splashy plunge into the Han River, a bike ride along its banks and a run by the waterfront — all in one day. The city-run “ MY PACE Hangang Triathlon Festival" will return Friday for a three-day run along the Han River, with new experiences for visitors being added this year.

First launched in 2024, the event returns for its third edition after attracting 650,000 visitors last year, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday. 

The festival focuses on participation rather than competition. Though there are no rankings or record tracking, participants can complete a triathlon-style challenge consisting of swimming, cycling and running along the Han River. There is no need to complete the entire challenge in a single day. Participants can break it up into stages and finish it at a pace that suits their fitness level.

The athletic event will feature a variety of activities and attractions. This year’s will take place at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, and Jamsil Hangang Park in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

Courses are offered at three difficulty levels — beginner, intermediate and advanced — to accommodate different levels of fitness and experience.

Swimming courses include 300 meters (984 feet) for beginners, 500 meters for intermediate participants and 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) for advanced athletes.

Cycling courses cover 10 kilometers, 15 kilometers and 20 kilometers, respectively, while running courses are set at 5 kilometers, 7 kilometers and 10 kilometers.

Finishers receive a medal for each event they complete. The three medals fit together to form a single circular design. This year's medals feature the city’s hand-picked signature colors: so-called green aurora for beginners and intermediate participants; and morning yellow for those who completed the advanced course.

A round of water-quality tests by the municipal Institute of Public Health and Environment found that waters in designated areas of the Han River met safety standards for swimmers.

The city will make Ttareungi bicycles available for the cycling course. Ttareungi is the city’s public bicycle-sharing service. Helmets will be available for rent at 3,000 won ($2). However, only 1,500 helmets will be offered.

Participants who registered in advance must bring identification on the day of the event and complete identity verification at the main information booth.

Identity verification for beginner and intermediate participants will take place at Ttukseom Hangang Park, while advanced participants must check in at Jamsil Hangang Park.

Those who missed the early registration may sign up at the venue, though available spots are limited. 

The city has also expanded its lineup of attractions this year.

A floating inflatable playground called "Haechi Island" will be set up on the Han River, where visitors can jump directly into the water. The event will also feature food-tasting programs centered on two famed snacks commonly enjoyed along the Han River: ramyeon and chimaek (a combination of fried chicken and beer).

Other programs include a family sports program called “Iron Rookie,” a challenge program where participants complete missions at designated locations, dubbed the “Haechi Puzzle Run” and a variation of the classic cops-and-robbers game, ”Where's Haechi?”

To ensure safety, the city plans to deploy more than 1,000 safety personnel each day during the festival.

Emergency personnel will be stationed along the main course and in crowded areas, while 189 safety workers will oversee river-crossing sections. The city is set to install smart scanners at 13 locations to monitor attendance in real time and manage crowds.

"MY PACE Hangang Triathlon Festival is Seoul's signature summer event, created so that anyone can enjoy both sports and relaxation along the Han River," said Kim Myung-joo, general director of the tourism and sports bureau at the city government. “The city has prepared an expanded lineup of programs to offer visitors an even richer experience."

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY MOON HEE-CHUL [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]