The days when it was really cold and icy here in Seoul are over. Just a few weeks ago, it was cold and gray everywhere, with no sign of spring awakening. But then the tide turned in April. Since the cherry blossoms announced the spring, the spring awakening can no longer be stopped. Greenery is sprouting from the earth on every corner. The barren, desolate landscapes of Seoul and the banks of the Han River have transformed into a colorful sea of flowers. So has my favorite retreat – Nodeul Island.
Nodeul Island is an artificially created island, in the middle of the Han River. An idyllic oasis in the heart of Seoul city. In the past, the island was a kind of farm. After that, unfortunately, it was no longer farmed and turned into an abandoned and overgrown piece of land, that is, an island. However, in 2015 there was a new lease of life for this special place. Nodeul Island, which is owned by the city of Seoul, was given a new lease of life by urban planning start-up Urban Transformer. Nodeul Island was transformed and officially opened in September 2019.
The island is now a cultural hub with galleries, bookstores, restaurants, cafes, and music stages. Therefore, it is not surprising that Nodeul Island attracts a lot of creative people and underground artists. And so there are exhibitions of “artists in residence” or music performances of still undiscovered musical talents, who give one of their concerts on the open-air stage to the best. Also the K-Pop band BTS made a video on Nodeul Island some time ago.
Since I am very often on the road with my bike along the Han River, I often make a stopover on this island. I enjoy a hot soup and a kimbap in one of the small restaurants. It feels like being on a big cruise ship with a fascinating view of Yeouido (the financial center of Seoul), Lotte World Tower, and Namsan Tower.
If you don’t want to swim to the island, you can reach it via the Hangang Bridge on foot or by bus. And since there’s virtually no parking on the island, it’s a place where the crowds are still contained….
