The 2023 Hangang River Festival Summer runs from Aug. 4-20 on the Hangang River and eight surrounding parks. Shown are visitors on July 29, 2022, at the Hangang Summer Music Picnic in last year's festival at Yeouido Hangang River Park. (Yonhap News)

By Hong Angie
Video = Hangang Project HQ's official YouTube channel

Want to get away far this summer but can't due to the scorching heat? How about the Hangang River running through Seoul?

The Hangang Project Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 1 said this year's Hangang River Festival Summer runs from Aug. 4-20 by the river and at eight surrounding parks.

Held four times a year every season, the festival features programs featuring appeal and enjoyment that can only be experienced by the river.

The theme of the summer edition is "Wise summer vacation at the Hangang River" with 24 events including those of culture and performing arts, sports and interactive programs, and leisure and relaxation. The city government aims to offer "a cost-effective summer resort" since the nation could not enjoy summer over the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifteen of the 24 events are free and the remaining nine require fees with rates lower than market levels.

The Hangang Summer Music Picnic Program opens the festival on Aug. 4 at Yeouido Hangang River Park. Visitors can attend performances by the river on a summer night by jazz musician WoongSan, jazz pianist and singer Maria Kim, and saxophonist Lee Jeong-sik.

The inaugural "Moonlight Fantastage," a show comprising a b-boy performance and fire show, will run from Aug. 11-12 at Banpo Hangang River Park and Some Sevit, a culture complex on three artificial islands. 

Visitors on Aug. 5 and 12 can use wireless headphones at the Yeouido park and lower areas of the Mapodaegyo Bridge to attend a noiseless DJ party in the city by listening and dancing to music spun by a DJ.

Outdoor movie theaters from Aug. 19-20 at the Yeouido and Mangwon river parks will screen films like "Minari," "A Dog's Journey," "Little Forest" and "La La Land" with the river's cool breeze blowing.

For more information, visit the festival's official website: http://festival.seoul.go.kr/hangang.

This is the poster for the 2023 Hangang River Festival Summer. (Hangang Project HQ of Seoul Metropolitan Government)