Wonhyo Bridge

The Wonhyo Bridge crosses the Han River in South Korea and connects the districts of Yongsan-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu. The bridge was completed in 1981. It was the 13th to be built on the Han River.[1]

Wonhyo Bridge
Wonhyo Bridge at night
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationWonhyo daegyo
McCune–ReischauerWǒnhyo taegyo

History

  • July 1978: Construction started
  • October 27, 1981: Wonhyo Bridge opened
  • December 10, 1981: Introduction of toll fees
  • February 1, 1983: Dongah Construction donated Wonhyo Bridge to the Seoul Metropolitan City, and collection of toll fees discontinued

Toll Fees

Toll fees were collected from December 10, 1981, but the flow of traffic was rather low, as vehicles avoided crossing the bridge due to the imposition of the toll fees. In fact, the toll fees collected were barely adequate to supply power for the street lamps, and on February 1, 1983, Dongah Construction donated the bridge to Seoul Metropolitan City. After the ownership rights were donated, the toll gates were removed.

Film Appearances

Wonhyo Bridge was selected as the set for a fighting scene included in the 2006 Korean film The Host directed by Bong Joon-ho. In the movie, Wonhyo Bridge was where the creature was hiding, and where the daughter of the main character was kidnapped. The reason for selecting this location was that it fit well with the film's concept of a sewer under a bridge, and the external appearance of Wonhyo Bridge is more dynamic than other bridges, and this added tension.

References

  1. (in Korean) 원효대교 元曉大橋 (Wonhyo Bridge) Naver / EnCyber, retrieved on July 13, 2009

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