Current Time in Hanam, South Korea

Hanam lies immediately east of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, occupying a stretch of the south bank of the Han River where the valley narrows between wooded hills. Mount Geomdan rises above the city and the Paldang Dam, which supplies drinking water to the capital region, stands just upstream. Much of the surrounding land is protected green belt, so Hanam is unusually open for a city so close to Seoul, with river parks, orchards and mountain trails within walking distance of new apartment blocks.

The population is around three hundred and thirty thousand and has risen sharply in recent years as large planned districts such as Misa and Gamil have been built on former farmland. Many residents commute into Seoul, but Hanam has also developed its own economic base, dominated by retail, logistics and services. Starfield Hanam, one of the largest shopping and leisure complexes in Asia, draws visitors from across the metropolitan area, and distribution centres, small manufacturing and a growing cluster of technology and media firms provide local employment.

The area has been inhabited for a very long time. The prehistoric site at Misa-ri contains the remains of a Neolithic settlement with dwelling pits, pottery and tools, and archaeologists regard the district as a strong candidate for the location of Wiryeseong, the earliest capital of the Baekje kingdom, founded before the Christian era. The earthwork fortress of Iseongsanseong on the ridge above the city dates from that period. Later, the mountain fortress of Namhansanseong, which straddles the boundary with neighbouring cities and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, sheltered the Joseon court during the Manchu invasion of 1636. Hanam itself was separated from Gwangju city and given its own administration in 1989.

Along the river, the Misa-ri regatta course built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics is still used for rowing and canoeing, and the road beside it became famous for its live music cafes. The Hanam Union Park, built above a waste treatment facility with an observation tower, is a striking example of modern landscaping, while the riverside cycle path that runs from Seoul towards the mountains passes through the city and is used by thousands of cyclists at weekends. The Hanam History Museum, temple sites such as Dongsa, and the stone pagodas and Buddha images preserved in the hills recall the older layers of the past.

Cultural life centres on the Hanam Cultural Arts Center, local festivals celebrating the Baekje heritage and the river, and a strong tradition of outdoor recreation. Schools are well regarded, and universities in Seoul are easily reached. Subway Line 5 was extended into the city in 2020 with three stations, further extensions are under construction, and expressways link Hanam to Seoul in around half an hour.

Hanam is important as a rapidly growing satellite city of the Korean capital that has combined large-scale modern development with protected riverside landscape and a deep archaeological heritage.