Adam Bennett

The ‘Miracle on the Han River’ or ‘Hangang ui Gijeok’ refers to the period of rapid economic growth experienced within South Korea following the the Korean War, which saw it progress from one the of the worlds least developed countries to the 10th largest economy by GDP rank in the present day. The Han River, which is formed by the confluence of the Namhangang River which originates in the Taebaek Mountains in South Korea and the Bukhangang River which originates in the Kumgangsan Mountains in North Korea, holds prominence as a symbol of nation, which continues to be utilised to promote rapid development along its banks and surrounding areas within South Korea’s capital, Seoul and satellite cities along its course.

In the present day, the river is the site of an urban spectacle, a place of leisure which is constantly changing in both perceptions and physicality’s of space. In the city the dominance over the river and its many tributaries is evident with roads and apartment blocks towering over its strictly controlled path, in stark contrast to the undisturbed natural landscapes which surround the river outside of Korea’s major cities. It is here that the paradox of the ‘Miracle on the Han River’ lies, where its shaping as a symbol of nation in promotion of development continues to alter the ecology, landscape and course of this once natural river.