The Mapo Bridge (Korean: 마포대교) crosses the Han River in South Korea and connects the Mapo District and the Yeongdeungpo District in the city of Seoul. The bridge was completed in 1970. Until 1984, the bridge was called Seoul Bridge.[2]
Mapo Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Mapodaegyo | |
| Coordinates | 37°32′01″N 126°56′11″E / 37.53361°N 126.93639°E |
| Carries | road traffic[1] |
| Crosses | Han River |
| Locale | Seoul, South Korea[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder bridge[1] |
| Total length | 1,389 metres (4,557 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1970[1] |
| Location | |
 | |
| Mapo Bridge | |
| Hangul | 마포대교 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 麻浦大橋 |
| Revised Romanization | Mapo daegyo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Map'o taegyo |
Suicides
editThe suicide rate is very high in South Korea and bridge jumping is common. Mapo Bridge has a reputation of jumpers with over 100 attempts between 2007 and 2012.[3]
On July 26, 2013, Sung Jae-ki jumped off Mapo Bridge in an attempt to draw attention to gender inequality against men and a plea to accrue needed funds for "Men of Korea". Although rescue work began almost immediately after he fell and a widespread search of the Han River was conducted, it took three days to retrieve his body.[4]
In an effort to deter suicides on the bridge, Samsung Life Insurance added pictures, words, and a statue that were intended to foster an encouraging atmosphere.[3][5] For instance, the bridge's handrails were equipped with motion sensors to sense movement, lighting up with short phrases, written with the help of suicide prevention specialists and psychologists, also showing photos of happy families among other things.
Such measures were deemed to be a failure in 2015. Samsung eventually replaced the lights and slogans with barriers in a return to a more physical approach to suicide prevention by October.[6]
Gallery
edit-
The phrase on the handrail pictured reads "the wind is really nice."
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mapo Bridge". structurae.net. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
- ^ (in Korean) 마포대교 麻浦大橋 (Mapo Bridge) Archived 2011-06-10 at the Wayback Machine Nate / EncyKorea, retrieved on July 13, 2009
- ^ a b Chung, Jane (October 3, 2012). "South Korea Suicides: Mapo Bridge Gets Uplifting Signs To Prevent Suicides". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "Sung jae gi threw himself to Han river and missing" (in Korean). MBC. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ Shayon, Sheila (February 7, 2012). "At a Bridge in Seoul Where Koreans Frequently Give Up, Samsung Steps In". Brand Channel. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ Jang, Lina (October 23, 2019). "Slogans for Suicide Prevention Removed from Mapo Bridge After 7 Years".
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