Seomjin River

South Korea's Seomjin River is a river. It flows into the Korea Strait from southeastern Jeollabuk-do, eastern Jeollanam-do, and western Gyeongsangnam-do provinces. The Seomjin flows for 212.3 kilometers, beginning in Palgongsan and ending in Gwangyang, where it enters Gwangyang Bay.

The Seomjin watershed spans 4,896.5 km2. This area contains both farmland and pristine mountain country, including the Jirisan area. The river is home to a diverse range of animals, including the European otter, Lutra lutra. The main tributaries are the Boseong River and the Yocheon Stream.

"Seomjin" literally translates to "toad ferry." This name is thought to have originated with Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea in the 1590s. Legend has it that a swarm of toads prevented the Japanese army from crossing the Seomjin into northern Jeolla.

In August 2020, the river overflowed due to consecutive days of heavier-than-usual rainfall, and a levee on the river collapsed, resulting in massive flooding. Thousands of people living in villages and towns along the river were displaced as entire communities were submerged by floodwaters.

Length: 212.3 km (132 mi)