Paju's Imjin River Huangpo Sailboat Remains Popular, Attracts Over 20,000 Yearly
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Paju’s traditional Huangpo sailboat (황포돛배) on the Imjin River has regained pre-COVID visitor numbers, drawing 20,663 riders from March to November this year. The tourist boat, restored to resemble vessels used before the Korean War, carries up to 45 people on a 6 km route that includes the dramatic 20 m-high basalt cliff 'Imjin Jeokbyeok' (임진적벽). Operations began in 2004, paused in 2014 due to military land use, and resumed in 2017 after the city purchased the dock site and built facilities. Annual ridership dipped during the pandemic but recovered to over 20,000 since 2022, with seasonal service running eight trips per day (40 minutes each) except when the river freezes from December to late February. Paju city plans to link the sailboat with nearby attractions and add new programs to boost tourism next year.
