Korean Job Discussion Forums

Woden · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Eurasia

Hello all...

...I know there are places to go white water rafting near Seoul, but I don't know the names of them. Could anyone help me with the names or links to these places??

Also wanted to know how long it takes to get to them from Gimpo, or from central Seoul.

Ta very much for any help!

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I went to the Hantan River with Adventure Korea last year. Not right near Seoul and much calmer than white water I was expecting.

julian_w · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject: Naelin Chun

You can take a bus from one of the intercity bus terminals for a small country town called Inje, which is... (I don't remember exactly) a good wee bus ride (of at least a couple of hours) from east Seoul. It's right into the heart of Kangwon Do, most of the way towards Seorak San. There's a small river there, called a 'chun' in Korean. Naelin Chun has bunches of rafting companies all along the road which runs beside the stretch of the river which is rafted.

It's usually grade 2, although after a good rain and especially in rainy season it can go up to 3 or possibly more. If you're a kayaker, there is one consistantly grade 3 rapid somewhere around half-way down where there is a single path to take and to get right, because the rest of the width is a potentially recirculating pour-over. Then just towards the end of the length of the run is quite a good rock-garden, which can get gnarlyesque at a higher flow.

I've usually found the major excitement of being on that river is either looking for someone who has gone in and under and not come up again, or watching some dingbat princess sitting on the side of a raft in jeans, sunglasses and make-up squealing because they got their toes wet and have just realised they can't swim.

Having said that, with good company and the skills to survive and enjoy the river, it is a very pleasant excursion and a great break from city life. The only real headache is getting back into Seoul on a Sunday afternoon, as the roads are invariably clogged. What is often a 2 - 3 hour trip out from the city can be 4 - 6 hours to get back in.