(LEAD) Seoul to complete world's first floating islet in Han River next month

(ATTN: REMOVES "and" in the first line of the 3rd para)
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul metropolitan government said Wednesday that
the foundation for the world's first "floating island" will be established in the
Han River next month.

The city's investment firm, SH Corp., and a consortium of seven private firms
have been working on construction of three artificial "floating islands" in the
river that runs through the capital with a combined investment of 96.4 billion
won (US$83 million). The base of Islet number 2 is set to be complete by next
month.
There are already several artificial islands in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates,
but South Korea will be the first country to have artificial islets actually
"floating" on a river, city officials said.
Located near the southern end of the Banpo Bridge spanning the river, the islets
will serve as venues for art performances, international conferences, exhibitions
and leisure activities when construction of the remaining two islets is complete
in August, officials said.
"A 3,271 square-meter buoy that will prop up one of the three islets and its
upper poles will be set up for two days from Feb. 5," the Seoul government said
in a statement, adding the buoy is composed of 134 steel-frame blocks. Islet
number 2 will be used mainly for entertainment and cultural events, the statement
said.
Islet No. 1, measuring 4,737 square meters, and islet No. 3, about 1,200 square
meters, will be set up in March and April, respectively, it added. A 692-seat
multi-purpose performance hall will be placed on the first islet while the third
islet will have water-sports facilities.
Officials said the islets will be tied to the bottom of the river with up to 10
chains each and be automatically controlled with the aid of global positioning
systems to stay within a one-meter range of the originally designed spot.
"We hope the floating islands will emerge as a Seoul landmark that provides all
types of cultural and leisure services on the Han River," said a city official.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)

Delete & Prev | Delete & Next