As the summer heat sets in, Seoul's district offices are opening free outdoor water parks to give residents a cool escape close to home. The facilities come with strengthened safety measures and water quality management, drawing families looking for an affordable way to beat the heat without traveling far.
Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Gyeong-ho said the Jungnangcheon Water Park in Junggok-dong will open Tuesday and run through Aug. 23.
The 3,277-square-meter facility features 30 water attractions, including a water slide popular with children. Amenities such as showers, changing rooms, restrooms, Mongolian-style tents and drinking fountains have been installed to make it a full-day destination for families.
Gwangjin-gu plans to conduct water quality checks every two hours and operate a daily water-circulation system that replaces the water entirely each day. Safety personnel will be on duty at all times.
The park operates weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 45-minute swim sessions followed by 15-minute breaks. It closes every Monday and during rain.
Guro-gu District Mayor Jang In-hong said the Anyangcheon Water Park, located beneath the Ogeum Bridge in Sindorim-dong, will run from July 8 through Aug. 23.
Spanning 6,975 square meters, the park features four pools ranging from 0.2 to 0.75 meters in depth along with fountain installations, designed to accommodate users from toddlers to adults.
The facility also offers 55 Mongolian-style tents, shower facilities, changing rooms and food trucks to enhance visitor convenience.
The district has put safety measures in place, including a central operations center, on-site safety personnel and liability insurance coverage. Water is replaced in full every day, and formal water quality inspections are conducted once a week.
Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The park closes every Monday and during rain.
Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa opened four water parks on June 20: Salgoji Water Park, Miso Children's Dream Park, Haengdang Children's Dream Park and Cheonggyecheon Majang Children's Dream Park.
The flagship Salgoji Water Park, located inside Salgoji Sports Park, is easily accessible and free to all visitors — including those from outside the district — making it one of the most popular summer destinations in the area year after year.
The parks run through Aug. 30. In June, they operate on weekends only. Starting July 21, an evening session from 5:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. will be added, offering residents a way to cool off on hot summer nights.
Seoul's district offices have been expanding their water park operations in recent years as heat waves driven by climate change have become a regular summer occurrence, giving residents a safe and accessible place to cool off close to home.
Most facilities are free of charge and have bolstered safety and hygiene standards through dedicated safety personnel, regular water quality inspections and daily water changes.
"For residents who find it difficult to take their children on a vacation far from home, urban water parks are the best summer retreat," a district official said. "We will do our best to provide a safe and comfortable environment this summer as well."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
