List of rivers of Korea facts for kids

The Korean peninsula is mostly mountainous, especially along its eastern side. Because of this, most of Korea's rivers flow west, emptying into the Yellow Sea. While some rivers pass through lakes, these are all man-made reservoirs, as there are no natural lakes on the Korean mainland. A few rivers flow south into the Korea Strait, and some smaller ones head east to the East Korea Bay. These eastern rivers are usually more like streams compared to the larger ones.

Major rivers of Korea.

Main Rivers of South Korea

South Korea has many important rivers that play a big role in its geography and daily life. Here are some of the main ones:

Map of Main Rivers of South Korea.

Main Rivers of North Korea

North Korea also has several key rivers that flow through its landscape. Here are some of them:

• Bukhan River
• Chaeryong River
• Changja River
• Changjin River [ko]
• Chongchon River
• Han River
• Hantan River
• Hochon River
• Imjin River
• Kumya River
• Nam River
• Orang River
• Piryu River
• Pothong River
• Ryesong River
• Songchon River [ko]
• Taedong River
• Taeryong River
• Tumen River
• Yalu River

Rivers Flowing into the Yellow Sea (West Sea)

Many of Korea's major rivers flow into the Yellow Sea, which is located to the west of the peninsula.

Rivers North of the Han River

• Yalu River, also known as the "Amnok River" in Korean (압록강). This river forms part of the border between North Korea and China.
• Taeryong River (대령강)
  • Ch'ongch'on River (청천강)
• Taedong River (대동강)
  • Chaeryong River (재령강)
• Ryesong River (예성강)

The Han River System

The Han River (한강) is one of the most important rivers in South Korea. It flows through the capital city of Seoul and has many smaller rivers and streams that join it.

• Imjin River (임진강)
  • Hantan River (한탄강)
• Anyangcheon (안양천)
• Jungnangcheon (중랑천)
  • Cheonggyecheon (청계천)
• Tancheon (탄천)
  • Yangjaecheon (양재천)
• Wangsukcheon (왕숙천)
• Gyeongancheon (경안천)
• Bukhan River (북한강)
  • Jojongcheon (조종천)
  • Hongcheon River (홍천강)
  • Soyang River (소양강)
• Namhan River (남한강)
  • Heukcheon (흑천)
  • Bokhacheon (복하천)
  • Seom River (섬강)
  • Dalcheon (달천)
  • Pyeongchang River (평창강)
  • Dong River (동강)

Rivers Between the Han River and the Geum River

This region includes several rivers that flow into the Yellow Sea.

• Anseongcheon (안성천)
  • Sapgyocheon (삽교천)
  • Jinwicheon (진위천)
    • Hwanggujicheon (황구지천)
      • Suwoncheon (수원천)
• Sapgyocheon (삽교천)
  • Gokgyocheon (곡교천)
• Daecheoncheon (대천천)

The Geum River System

The Geum River (금강) is another major river in South Korea, known for its beautiful scenery. It also has many tributaries.

• Nonsancheon (논산천)
• Miho River (미호강)
• Gapcheon (갑천)
• Bocheongcheon (보청천)
• Yeongdongcheon (영동천)
• Namdaecheon (남대천)

Rivers South of the Geum River

Further south, more rivers flow into the Yellow Sea.

• Mangyeong River (만경강)
  • Jeonjucheon (전주천)
• Dongjin River (동진강)
• Jujincheon (주진천)
• Yeongsan River (영산강)
  • Yeongamcheon (영암천)
  • Hampyeongcheon (함평천)
  • Jiseokcheon (지석천)
  • Hwangnyong River (황룡강)
  • Gwangjucheon (광주천)

Rivers Flowing into the Korea Strait (South Sea)

The Korea Strait, also known as the South Sea, receives water from rivers flowing from the southern parts of the peninsula.

From Ddang-ggeut to the Seomjin River

• Tamjin River (탐진강)
• Deungnyangcheon (득량천)
• Joseongcheon (조성천)
• Suncheondongcheon (순천동천)
• Sueocheon (수어천)

The Seomjin River to the East Coast

• Seomjin River (섬진강)
  • Boseong River (보성강)
• Nakdong River (낙동강)
  • Miryang River (밀양강)
  • Nam River (남강)
  • Hwang River (황강)
  • Geumho River (금호강)

Rivers Flowing into the Sea of Japan (East Sea)

The eastern coast of Korea is mountainous, so rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) are generally shorter and steeper.

• Hoeya River (회야강)
• Taehwa River (태화강)
• Hyeongsan River (형산강)
• Wangpicheon (왕피천)
• Nam River (남강)
• Geumya River (금야강)
• Seongcheon River (성천강)
• Namdaecheon (남대천)
• Bukdaecheon (북대cheon)
• Eorangcheon (어랑천)
• Tumen River, known in Korean as the "Duman River" (두만강). This river forms part of the border between North Korea, China, and Russia.

Rivers Flowing into the Songhua River

A couple of rivers in the northern part of the Korean peninsula flow into the Songhua River, which is located in China.

• Samdobaekha (삼도백하)
• Paekduchon (백두천)

Rivers of Jeju-do

Jeju-do is a volcanic island south of the Korean mainland. It has its own unique river systems, many of which are seasonal.

• Sanjicheon (산지천)
• Hwabukcheon (화북천)
• Cheonmicheon (천미천)
• Hyodoncheon (효돈천)
• Gangjeongcheon (강정천)
• Jungmuncheon (중문천)
• Hallimcheon (한림천)
• Musucheon (무수천)
• Hancheon (한천)

See also

• List of rivers
• Geography of South Korea
• Geography of North Korea