In Seoul, South Korea, the bridges over the Han River are not aligned, but the view from any of them is always breathtaking. Whether you cross a bridge for cars and pedestrians or a railroad bridge for subways or trains, you'll be greeted with the sight of several other bridges crossing the Han River nearby.

These bridges, which are a mix of Korean and foreign design codes, form a stunning and diverse landscape that showcases the fourth generation of bridge construction in Korea.

One of the most remarkable examples of modern bridge construction in Korea is the Angel Bridge, which connects Amtae Island and Apae Island along the Mokpo coastline. The Angel Bridge consists of a cable-stayed bridge, a multi-span suspension bridge, and a multi-linked girder bridge.

The cable-stayed bridge is 1,004 meters long, and the three-tower suspension bridge is 1,750 meters long. The bridge has boosted the tourism value of Sinan-gun, which is known for its beautiful multiple islands.

Another iconic bridge in Seoul is the Banpo Bridge, which connects Seocho-gu with Yongsan-gu in the northern part of the city. The Banpo Bridge is a double-deck girder bridge, and its lower layer, called the Diving Bridge, is only open to traffic during the dry season.

During the flood season, when the water level is higher than the bridge deck, traffic is suspended, and the lower deck becomes a diving bridge. The diving bridge is 795 meters long, 18 meters wide, and has four lanes. It was completed on July 15, 1976.

The upper level of the Banpo Bridge is the Panpu Bridge, which is 1,490 meters long, 25 meters wide, and has six lanes. The bridge completed an expansion project on December 14, 2008.

The Gugim Bridge, located in Gyeogeong-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea, is another impressive cable-stayed bridge that spans Gyeogeong Bay and connects Soge Island with Gugim Island. The bridge was built in 2002 by the Iksan District Office of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and opened to traffic on December 16, 2011.

With an investment of 271.8 billion won, it became the first double-deck bridge in Korea to separate the upper and lower motorways from the pedestrian walkway.

The Yongjong Bridge in Incheon and the Gwangan Bridge in Busan are the other two double-decker bridges in Korea, but they separate the upper and lower highways from the railroad and are not specifically designed for pedestrians.

The completion and opening of the Gugim Bridge have greatly improved transportation links between Gugindo, the tenth largest island in Korea with an area of 62.08 square kilometers, and Sogukdo. It is expected to bring more opportunities for local tourism development and economic growth.

Overall, bridge construction activities in Korea today focus on diversity and aesthetics. By applying a mixture of Korean and foreign design codes, Korea is establishing itself as a leader in bridge construction.

With its self-reliance technology for suspension and cable-stayed bridges, Korea is setting a new standard for bridge construction around the world.

The bridges over the Han River and other parts of Korea are not just functional; they are stunning works of art that demonstrate the country's commitment to innovation and modernization.