Bam Islet | Seunggu Kim

Bam Islet

In 1968, about 400 residents of Bam Island, located in the center of the Han River in Seoul, were forcibly relocated and the island was destroyed for the development of Yeouido. For a long period of more than 50 years, Bamseom Island was naturally restored and designated as Ramsar Wetland in 2012. In other words, the area is a shadow and heritage of the city that was unintentionally left in the middle of the city and grew on its own.

Having lived in Seoul and seen Bam Island since childhood, I was curious about this place as an area that everyone knows but has never entered. I was given permission to take pictures from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and since 2011, have entered the "Island Destroyed by Man and Restored by Nature" by boat and recorded disorderly nature and the small urban ecosystem behind it. The true meaning of "coexistence" becomes possible only when we accurately recognize each other's existence and values. We all know Bam Island is just a habitat for migratory birds, but Bam Islet dreams that Seoul will become an ecological city.