[TourKorea=Reporter Yoo Kyung-hoon] Meet Uimaru: a new riverside hotspot on the Uicheon in Wolgye-dong, Nowon District, Seoul, designed to pair seasonal scenery with cozy, stay-focused experiences.
Uimaru celebrated its completion today (the 31st), becoming the 19th site finished under Seoul’s "Seoul-style Waterfront Sensibility City" initiative—an effort that brings new life to the city's tributaries.
Leveraging its spot between a cherry-blossom promenade and the hydrangea slopes of Choansan, the city created a mixed-use leisure space where seasonal views and linger-worthy spots seamlessly come together.
What was once mainly a walking path now features an indoor musical fountain and "book steps"—tiered seating perfect for lounging—so visitors can enjoy the riverside no matter the weather.
Up top, a rooftop observation deck offers sweeping views of Bukhansan and the Uicheon, turning the building’s upper level into a tranquil escape to soak in nature.
The first floor will host a waterfront café and a ramen kitchen, which officially open on April 10. Meanwhile, the book steps, indoor musical fountain, and waterfront viewing deck are open to visitors starting today (the 31st).
Hours are 9 a.m.–9 p.m. from March through November, and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. from December through February.
This year, the city plans to open four more waterfront sites in succession: Anyangcheon (Geumcheon District), Anyangcheon (Yangcheon District), Jungnangcheon (Gwangjin District), and Seongnaecheon (Songpa District).
Kim Byung-min, Seoul’s deputy mayor for political affairs, said, "Our 'waterfront-sensibility city' policy, launched in 2023, reaches its 19th milestone with Uimaru. With today's unveiling of the name 'Seoul Mulbit Naru,' we will connect waterfront hubs across the city and do our best to help residents linger longer and enjoy the waterways near their homes more deeply."
At the completion ceremony, the city also unveiled the unified name "Seoul Mulbit Naru," the brand that will tie waterfront activity hubs across Seoul together—turning the waterfront-space transformation that began with 2023’s Hongjecheon 'Cafe Waterfall' into a single, recognizable identity.
Chosen through a public naming contest, "Seoul Mulbit Naru" evokes a waterfront platform where people and culture gather along sparkling waterways, enriching everyday life for residents.
"Seoul Mulbit Naru" No. 1 is the Hongjecheon "Cafe Waterfall" in Seodaemun District; today's Uimaru in Nowon is No. 19.
Officials expect the sequential numbering will encourage residents to see Seoul’s waterfront spaces as a connected, themed route—turning visits into a new kind of urban adventure.
