Han River triathlon draws 893,000 as Seoul pushes inclusive sports model

A sprawling summer festival along the Han River has drawn nearly 900,000 visitors, transforming Seoul’s waterfront into what city officials are calling a new model for inclusive public sports. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that the third edition of the “Relaxed Han River 3-Event Festival,” held June 5 to June 7, attracted 893,272 visitors across Ttukseom and Jamsil Hangang Parks. The event blended swimming, cycling and running with large-scale cultural programming, positioning itself as one of Seoul’s signature summer gatherings. City officials said 25,000 participants completed the triathlon-style course, which emphasized finishing over competition and was designed for a range of fitness levels from beginner to advanced. The festival expanded this year to include foreigner-only swimming events, a children’s triathlon segment called “Iron Rookie,” and a disability swimming competition, reflecting what organizers described as a broader commitment to accessibility. A foreign participant in the swimming event said the experience was more difficult than expectedWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times