Sometimes, seeing a scene from above can completely transform our perspective. The frozen patterns on the Bukhangang River resemble a monochrome ink painting of plum blossoms, offering a view of nature’s artistry.
Captured by a drone on Jan. 8, 2021, this aerial image taken near Dumulmeori—a prominent eco-tourism destination where the Bukhangang River converges with the Namhangng River in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province—highlights the intricate beauty of the icy river. The scene unfolded amid a record-breaking cold spell that gripped the Seoul metropolitan area, marking the region’s coldest weather in 20 years.
For over a century, the freezing of the Hangang River has been regarded as a reliable indicator of South Korea’s harsh winter conditions. Since 1906, ice formation between the second and fourth piers of Hangangdaegyo Bridge, approximately 100 meters upstream from its southern end in Noryangjin, has been the benchmark for declaring the river frozen.
Hangang River ice typically forms when the daily high temperature remains below freezing and the nighttime low dips below -10°C (14°F) for at least five consecutive days. During the 1970s, the Hangang River froze for an average of more than 30 days annually, with ice thick enough—often reaching knee height—that residents flocked to enjoy winter activities like sledding.
In the 1990s, the Hangang River froze for an average of just eight days per year, reflecting a clear rise in Seoul’s average winter low temperatures.
As global warming continues, could the frozen patterns of the Hangang River evolve once again, just as they have already changed over time?
