In New York, Central Park is for walking dogs and eating sandwiches you brought from home. In Seoul, the Han River (Hangang) Park is an open-air restaurant, a campsite, and a party zone.
Imagine sitting on a mat by the river, watching the sunset. Suddenly, a motorcycle arrives and hands you a steaming box of fried chicken. No address? No problem. This is the magic of the “Delivery Zone.”
But if you don’t know the rules, you will end up hungry, lost, and jealous of everyone else eating ramen.
Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you about the time I chased a delivery bike for 20 minutes because I didn’t know where I was.
The Level 1 Logs: The Missing Chicken
Flashback: 2 years ago. Yeouido Han River Park.
It was a beautiful Friday night. I wanted to have a “Chi-maek” (Chicken + Beer) picnic. I ordered chicken on the app. For the address, I just typed “Yeouido Park.” Big mistake. The park is huge. It’s 3km long.
The delivery driver called me. “Hello? Delivery. Where are you?” “I am… by the river! Near a tree!” (There are 5,000 trees). “Come to Baedal Zone 2,” he said. “What is a Zone 2?!”
I ran around aimlessly. By the time I found him, my chicken was cold, and the driver looked ready to kill me.
Enter “Ssam” (The Picnic Pro)
I met Ssam (my mentor) on his mat, enjoying a feast. “Ssam, why is it so hard to get food here? I ran a marathon for this chicken.”
Ssam handed me a wet wipe. “Alice, the Han River has a system. You don’t tell them where you are. You go to where they are.”
He pointed to a large sign with a number. [Delivery Zone 2]. “That is the meeting point. You order to the Zone, wait there, pick up the food, and THEN come back to your mat.”
Level 3 Wisdom: How to Picnic Like a Local
Ssam taught me the checklist for a perfect Hangang night.
1. The “Delivery Zone” (Baedal Zone)
This is the most important cheat code.
- The Map: Every major Han River park (Yeouido, Banpo, Ttukseom) has designated Delivery Zones.
- The Action: When ordering, tell the rider: “Please come to Yeouido Delivery Zone 2.” Go there 5 minutes early and wait. Dozens of bikes will arrive. Look for your phone number on the receipt.
2. Rent, Don’t Carry (Mat & Table)
You don’t need to bring anything. At the entrance of the park (near the subway station), you will see vendors renting out Picnic Sets.
- The Set: Mat + Small Table + Wet Wipes + Blankets.
- Cost: About 5,000 ~ 10,000 KRW ($4~8) for 4 hours. It is worth every penny.
3. The Ramen Machine Ritual
If you are still hungry, go to the convenience store (CU/GS25) on the river. Buy a packet of ramen and a specialized foil bowl.
- The Machine: Place the bowl on the induction machine. Press the button. Water comes out and boils automatically for 3 minutes.
- The Taste: Eating this spicy noodle soup while feeling the river breeze is the best dining experience in Seoul.
Level 4: The Deep Dive (Ssam’s Insight)
(Why is the Han River so special?)
The Miracle on the Han River
To foreigners, this is just a park. To Koreans, this river is a symbol of resurrection.
1. From Ruins to Riches In the 1950s, after the war, Seoul was ruins. The Han River bridges were bombed. The water was dirty. In just 40 years, Korea transformed from one of the poorest nations to a global economy. We call this rapid growth “The Miracle on the Han River.”
2. The Public Living Room Seoul is a crowded city. Most people live in apartments without backyards. So, the government turned the riverbanks into a massive “Public Backyard” for everyone. It is the only place where millions of people can breathe, run, and rest for free. When you sit there eating chicken, you are enjoying the fruits of Korea’s hard-won prosperity.
Alice’s Bottom Line: The River is Life
Go to Banpo Bridge at 7:30 PM. Watch the Rainbow Fountain show. Eat your ramen. Drink your beer. It is the most “Seoul” moment you will ever have.
Just remember: Zone 2. Don’t make the chicken man wait.
Survival Hangul: At the Park
- “배달존이 어디예요? (Baedal-zone-i eodi-yeyo?)”
- Meaning: “Where is the Delivery Zone?”
- “돗자리 빌려주세요. (Dot-jari billyeo-juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “I want to rent a mat.”
- “물티슈 있어요? (Mul-tissue isseoyo?)”
- Meaning: “Do you have wet wipes?” (Essential for chicken fingers).
Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)
Full of chicken and ramen? Plan your next adventure.