Nami-seom, a river island of tree-lined paths near Chuncheon
Published on 09/17/2026 at 09:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Nami-seom is a compact river island in Chuncheon, South Korea, shaped like a gentle half-moon in the Bukhan River and laid out as a forested resort landscape. Formed after the Cheongpyeong Dam raised the river in 1944, it carries the name of General Nami from the Joseon Dynasty and offers long tree-lined paths that turn a small island into an extended walk.half-moon shaped river island
A half-moon of land in the Bukhan River
Nami-seom sits in the Bukhan River in Gangwon Province, separated from the surrounding mainland by water and reached from the riverbank opposite Chuncheon.sits on the Bukhan River in Chuncheon Administratively it belongs to Chuncheon, even though the nearest docking point on the mainland lies in neighbouring Gapyeong County.belongs to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province
The island covers about 430,000 m² (around 0.17 square miles), giving visitors space for extended circuits despite its modest outline.430,000 m² in area Its plan is broadly circular, often described as a half-moon, and a perimeter walk traces the curve of land between riverside edges, internal lawns and dense planting.
From riverside hill to forested resort island
Before the Cheongpyeong Dam was built in 1944, the land that became Nami-seom stood as a riverside hill in the Bukhan River valley, emerging as an island when the new dam raised the water level around it.Cheongpyeong Dam construction in 1944 The island’s name honours General Nami, also known as Nam-Yi, a military commander of the Joseon Dynasty who died at the age of 28 under accusations of treason during the reign of King Yejong in the fifteenth century.General Nami in the Joseon Dynasty
In 1965 businessman Min Byeong-do purchased Nami-seom and began reshaping it as a recreational landscape, planting extensive woodland to cover ground that had previously been sparse.Min Byeong-do bought the island in 1965 The following year Gyeongchun Tourism Development Co., Ltd. was founded to operate the island as a general resort, a role later continued under the name Nami Island Co., Ltd., and over the late twentieth century the island evolved into a cultural park with themed gardens, small museums and outdoor artworks scattered between the trees.developed as a resort and cultural park
Tree-lined avenues and cultural corners
The most distinctive experience on Nami-seom lies in its long, straight avenues of trees that cut across the island and run towards the riverbanks. Metasequoia Lane forms one of these central paths, bordered by tall metasequoia trees whose trunks and branches frame a clear corridor of ground used for walking, cycling and seasonal displays.Metasequoia and Ginkgo Lanes Nearby, Ginkgo Tree Lane offers a contrasting line of ginkgo trees, giving the island several distinct axes of planting that visitors learn to recognise as they move between them.Ginkgo Tree Lane on the eastern side
Between these avenues lie lawns, smaller groves and curated corners such as Gongsaengwon Garden, where a statue recalls the KBS television drama “Winter Sonata”, filmed on Nami-seom in 2002 and closely associated with its image.filming location for Winter Sonata Other parts of the island carry the playful branding of the self-declared Naminara Republic, with signboards, sculptures and small cultural facilities presenting Nami-seom as a miniature “republic” devoted to leisure and the arts.Naminara Republic concept with gardens and museums
Visiting Nami-seom: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Nami-seom lies in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on the Bukhan River, with access from the mainland near Gapyeong via a riverside dock and onward transport across the water.
Rail services on the Gyeongchun Line link Seoul with Gapyeong Station, from where local connections reach the dock. - The island itself is level, with long paths laid out through woodland and open spaces; extended exploration involves walking on compacted surfaces and boardwalks rather than steep climbs.
- Nami-seom sits north-east of Seoul in central South Korea, and travel usually combines rail or road transport with a short crossing of the river by organised means.
- The official language is Korean and the currency is the South Korean won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Nami-seom on social platforms
These links open searches for Nami-seom on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Nami-seom
Where is Nami-seom and what kind of place is it?
Nami-seom is a half-moon shaped river island in the Bukhan River, belonging to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, South Korea, and laid out as a resort and cultural park.
What can visitors expect when walking around the island?
Visitors encounter long, straight avenues of metasequoia and ginkgo trees, open lawns, gardens and small cultural spaces, all organised within a compact island whose perimeter walk follows the curve of its riverbanks.
What makes Nami-seom distinctive among river islands?
Its combination of a confirmed twentieth-century origin linked to Cheongpyeong Dam, a named association with General Nami of the Joseon Dynasty and extensive tree-lined paths gives Nami-seom a clearly defined character as both historical reference and curated landscape.
