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Summer 2026 · Open 19 Jun – 30 Aug · Ko-START · Data infrastructure for international residents in Korea
Korean summers are humid. If your place doesn't cool down, you start looking for water — but water parks run ₩40,000–50,000 and the booking pages are usually in Korean.
The Seoul city government runs outdoor pools and water play areas along the Han River. ₩3,000–5,000 for adults, free for under-6, no booking — you just walk in. Each one is a 5–10 minute walk from a subway station, and you don't need any Korean.
There are six of them, and the differences matter more than you'd think.
1. No swim cap, no swimming. A swimsuit alone won't get you in. You need both a swimsuit and a swim cap. The good news: a regular cap counts. This is the standard rule at Korean public pools — there are no exceptions.
2. Bring four ₩500 coins. Lockers cost ₩2,000 and take only ₩500 coins. Notes and cards won't work.
3. You swim 45 minutes, then rest 15. It runs on a 45-minute swim / 15-minute rest cycle, and the water is closed during lunch and dinner hours. If you were planning "two straight hours of swimming," plan around the schedule.
Worth knowing what's free: showers, changing rooms and a parasol (one per 4 people) cost nothing. Only sun loungers are extra, at ₩10,000 (morning / afternoon / night).
The Han River has 2 swimming pools (Ttukseom, Yeouido) and 4 water play areas (Jamsil, Nanji, Yanghwa, Gwangnaru). That difference is the price difference — pools are ₩5,000 for adults, water play areas ₩3,000.
| If you… | Go to | Adult | |---|---|---| | want to actually swim, with a river view | Yeouido Pool | ₩5,000 | | live on Line 7 | Ttukseom Pool | ₩5,000 | | are bringing kids · want it cheaper | Jamsil Water Play | ₩3,000 (child ₩1,000) |
The three below are covered in detail; the other three (Nanji, Yanghwa, Gwangnaru) are summarised at the end.
One of the two actual pools. If swimming is the point, this is the one. It's also the easiest to reach — 5 minutes from Yeouinaru Station on Line 5.
The other pool. Prices and facilities are the same as Yeouido, so pick by which subway line you live on. It's 5 minutes from Ttukseom Resort Station on Line 7.
Water play areas are shallower and cheaper than pools. If you're bringing children, this is the one — ₩1,000 for a child, and 10 minutes from Jamsillaru Station on Line 2.
If you're coming with children — a child or toddler entering the teen or adult pool must wear a life jacket or tube and be accompanied by a guardian. Note that large tubes, fins, snorkels and kickboards are not allowed.
| | Child (6–12) | Teen (13–18) | Adult (19+) | |---|---|---|---| | Pools (Ttukseom, Yeouido) | ₩3,000 | ₩4,000 | ₩5,000 | | Water play (Jamsil, Nanji, Yanghwa, Gwangnaru) | ₩1,000 | ₩2,000 | ₩3,000 |
Under-6 free. And the following get 50% off — worth claiming if you qualify:
| Venue | Type | Night (till 22:00) | Contact | |---|---|---|---| | Nanji | Water play | ✅ Yes | 070-7715-3933 | | Gwangnaru | Water play (new in 2026) | ❌ No (closes 18:00) | 02-536-8263 | | Yanghwa | Water play | ❌ No (closes 18:00) | 070-8858-5460 |
Only 4 of the 6 stay open till 22:00 — Ttukseom, Yeouido, Jamsil and Nanji. Gwangnaru and Yanghwa close at 18:00, so if you're planning to go after work, pick from the first four.
You'll be fine. All six venues have 58 lifeguards on duty between them, with automated defibrillators and life rings on site and real-time video monitoring.
The information here is based on Seoul city government sources as of 15 July 2026. These are the parts we can't confirm for you.
Q. Do I really need a swim cap? A. Yes. A swimsuit alone won't get you in — you need both a swimsuit and a swim cap. A regular cap counts.
Q. How much is it? A. Pools (Ttukseom, Yeouido) are ₩5,000 for adults; water play areas (Jamsil, Nanji, Yanghwa, Gwangnaru) are ₩3,000. Under-6 is free, and children (6–12) pay ₩3,000 at pools / ₩1,000 at water play areas.
Q. Do I need to book? A. No. Walk in — no reservation.
Q. Is it OK if I don't speak Korean? A. Yes. It's swimming, so you can use it without Korean. Phone enquiries are Korean-language only.
Q. Is it open at night? A. Only between 3 July and 30 August, till 22:00 — and only at 4 of the 6: Yeouido, Ttukseom, Jamsil and Nanji. Gwangnaru and Yanghwa close at 18:00.
Q. What should I bring? A. A swimsuit and swim cap, plus four ₩500 coins (₩2,000) for the locker. Showers, changing rooms and parasols are free.
The images in this post are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of the actual facilities.
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