Starting point of the place
The old scenery of Haengjun Ferry is not immediately restored on the riverside. Goyang City data describes the former location of the ferry as near a white sandy beach located upstream from the northern end of Haengju Bridge, but reveals that its original appearance disappeared as the water level rose and mud accumulated after the installation of the underwater weir. The remaining marker is not the ferry itself, but a device that points to location and memory. Just because you can see the water, you should not explain the current landscape as the same as the port during the Joseon Dynasty.
Landscape changed by time
This ferry wasn't just for people. Products, catches, and daily necessities traveling between the lower Han River and inland came together, and the livelihood of the village below the castle was also connected to the waterway. Haenghogwaneodo, known as a 1741 work by Gyeomjae Jeongseon, is a visual material that conveys the fishing landscape of the Haengho area. There is also a record that a weir shop was operated in Goyang-gunji to bring male fish to the palace in spring. Behind the fancy word “true product,” there were fishermen’s skills in reading the seasons and handling their nets, as well as the government’s tax collection system.
People and issues in the story
The disappearance of the function of the ferry does not mean that the work of the river has ended. The guide to Haengjunaru in Goyang City introduces that fishing for eels, eels, mullets, carp, yellow puffer, gray perch, and crabs continues through the Haengju fishing village. The numbers and number of active people may change over time, so you should check again with the latest fishing village data or city data, but the important thing is that this is not a tourist attraction of the past. It is necessary to distinguish between images of eels in restaurants and the actual fishing industry in the Han River, and also check the origin of food sold separately.
What travelers will read on the spot
At the site, it would be a good idea to connect the landmarks, Haengju Bridge, and the terrain below the fortress into a triangle. In areas where riverside access is restricted, do not climb over fences or enter work areas. Fishing boats and nets are not photo props but tools of livelihood, so consent is sought when photographing people and their work. The story of Haengjun Ferry does not end with romanticizing the disappeared ferry. When you look at the river that changed due to changes in water level, the royal truth system, and the way today's fishing industry continues, the Han River can be read as real life.
How to check data
Even when connecting Haengjunaru with food stories, it is necessary to check records showing that ungeo was a real product in the past, whether it was actually caught today, and the origin of the food sold in restaurants. The three facts do not automatically follow. If you look up toward Haengjusanseong Fortress from the riverside stone, you can see why the defense base and the ferry were close, and if you look down from the fortress, you can understand that the ferry was part of the Han River movement network. The two places must be connected, but their different functions must be told as one story. The conclusion of this article is limited to the scope confirmed by field observations and two official data, and should be revised if operation and research results change in the future.