Korea's 4 Rivers cycling network has an official passport system — a series of certification stamps you collect at designated stations along each river trail. For foreign cyclists, it's one of the more satisfying quirks of riding in Korea: there's a physical sense of progress, and completing a full river route earns you an official certificate. Here's how it all works.

What Is the Cycling Passport?

The 4 Rivers Cycling Passport (자전거 인증수첩) is a small booklet you stamp at certification centers (인증센터) along the routes. Each river has multiple certification points, and collecting all stamps for a single river qualifies you for a completion certificate from the local government.

The passport itself is free or available for a small fee (₩1,000–₩3,000) at major certification centers and some tourist information offices. The physical stamp experience is more rewarding than the digital version.

Where Are the Certification Centers?

Certification centers (인증센터) are located at:

  • Start and end points of each river trail
  • Major rest areas (휴게소) at weirs (보) along the route
  • Some bike rental stations double as certification centers

Distances between centers vary: on the Han River you'll find one every 15–20 km; on the Nakdong, major stamps can be 40–60 km apart. Plan your daily mileage with certification center locations in mind.

How to Get Your Completion Certificate

  1. Collect all required stamps for a river route.
  2. Go to the final certification center at the end of the route.
  3. Show your completed passport to staff — they'll issue a completion certificate (종주 인증서) on the spot.

Certificates are issued in Korean. Some routes also issue commemorative medals or badges for full completion.

The Grand Slam: All 4 Rivers

Completing all four major rivers (Han, Nakdong, Geum, Yeongsan) plus the connecting routes earns the title of '그랜드슬램 인증' — the 4 Rivers Grand Slam. This requires completing over 1,700 km. The final certification point is at 낙동강 하구둑 in Busan.

Practical Tips

  • Certification centers are typically open 9am–6pm. Arrive before 5:30pm to guarantee a stamp.
  • Self-service stamp machines (무인 인증기) operate 24/7 at some locations. Look for the orange kiosk.
  • Carry your passport in a waterproof bag — rain on a long ride will destroy paper booklets.
  • Some centers also have QR-code digital stamps for the 4대강 자전거길 app — useful backup if you lose the physical booklet.
  • The stamp process needs no language skills — just show your booklet to staff.

Sample Route: Nakdong River (Full)

The Nakdong River is 324 km with 8 certification centers from Andong Dam to Busan. Completing it takes 4–5 days. The final stamp at 낙동강 하구둑 in Busan is the most significant on the entire 4 Rivers network.