The Stream that Revitalised Seoul
Seoul – South Korea’s capital city – is home to an urban area which in the last century has experienced unprecedented change. The city’s downtown was once home to a large stream named Gaecheon which provided water for the city’s residents. During the Japanese colonial period, this stream was renamed Cheonggyecheon, and after the Korean War ended in 1953, the reinstated Korean government spent 20 years covering the stream, opening an elevated highway above it in 1976.
Fast forward to present day and Seoul once again has a stream on this very site, with the road that took its place no longer present. Driven by an ambition to reinstate local history to the area, then-Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak embarked on one of the most expensive urban landscaping projects in South Korea’s history, spending US$384 million.
The vast expense of removing miles of concrete contributed significantly to the project’s cost, as did the efforts required to restore the river. Having suffered decades of neglect, water was no longer naturally flowing through Cheonggyecheon, meaning 120,000 tonnes needed to be pumped into the site every day from the Han river. In fact, the amount of work required in the project resulted in much criticism, with government members and environmental organisations questioning the true value of the project.
But the people of Seoul have embraced Cheonggyecheon. The site receives 90,000 visitors a day, ranging from office workers wanting a scenic view during lunch to families paddling in the shallows. The Environmental benefits are also clear. Air pollution is down to 48 micrograms per cubic meter from 74, and the cooling effects of the open stream means temperatures are as much as 5 degrees (F) lower than other areas. Wildlife is also flourishing, with the variety of species on site increasing five-fold.
In the early 20th Century, Gaecheon fulfilled Seoul’s demands by providing water for local inhabitants. Since then, Seoul has embraced both the automobile and globalisation, and the city’s needs have changed significantly. But in 2010, despite now being known as Cheonggyecheon, this large stream is once again fulfilling the needs of Seoul, providing public space which both people and nature can benefit from, and acting as a peaceful reminder of the bustling city’s history.
subscribe to our feed
on July 18th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
SALVADOR
on July 29th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
WALLACE
on July 30th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
LEWIS
on July 31st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
ENRIQUE
on July 31st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
JIMMIE
on August 1st, 2011 at 6:28 am
EDUARDO
on August 1st, 2011 at 1:07 pm
PERRY
on August 1st, 2011 at 7:40 pm
DUSTIN
on August 1st, 2011 at 9:07 pm
BRADLEY
on August 2nd, 2011 at 8:58 am
BRADLEY
on August 5th, 2011 at 12:45 am
ROLAND
on August 5th, 2011 at 2:17 am
LOUIS
on August 5th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
ALBERT
on August 8th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
WILLIAM
on August 9th, 2011 at 8:44 am
RAY
on August 11th, 2011 at 2:20 am
SAMUEL
on August 12th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
LAWRENCE
on August 13th, 2011 at 10:57 am
DARYL
on August 13th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
MARCUS
on August 13th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
ALLEN
on August 15th, 2011 at 12:20 am
JOHNNY
on August 15th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
MARION
on August 17th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
WENDELL
on August 19th, 2011 at 3:50 am
RONALD
on August 19th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
LEWIS
on August 19th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
BRUCE
on August 19th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
WENDELL
on August 26th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
BRYAN
on August 27th, 2011 at 12:57 am
ERIC
on August 28th, 2011 at 6:17 am
BRENT
on August 28th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
RONNIE
on August 29th, 2011 at 8:38 am
TREVOR
on October 17th, 2011 at 2:37 am
herpes kelly dating kansas…
Buy_no prescription…
on October 18th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
strong insulin…
Buy_generic meds…
on October 19th, 2011 at 10:57 am
erectile dysfunction herbal treatment…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on October 19th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
brown algae good for slow thyroid…
Buy_generic drugs…
on October 19th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
novo 50 allergy medicine…
Buy_now it…
on October 21st, 2011 at 5:58 am
does testosterone make you gain weight…
Buy_generic drugs…
on October 23rd, 2011 at 7:25 am
lithium alcohol…
Buy_generic drugs…
on October 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
embed video webpage…
Buy_generic drugs…
on October 26th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
what is plavix…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on October 27th, 2011 at 5:50 am
postpartum remeron…
Buy_no prescription…
on October 28th, 2011 at 12:10 am
medication errors 2nd ed…
Buy_no prescription…
on October 29th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
oral cancer hospital…
Buy_generic meds…
on October 29th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
joke male birth control…
Buy_generic meds…
on October 30th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
prozac daily strength…
Buy_generic pills…
on October 31st, 2011 at 4:47 am
acne in cats…
Buy_it now…
on November 1st, 2011 at 4:06 am
nursing times alzheimer mavis ford…
Buy_it now…
on November 1st, 2011 at 3:47 pm
diseaeses contracted from sand fleas…
Buy_now it…
on November 2nd, 2011 at 1:46 am
pet ct scan results accuracy cancer…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on November 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 am
pictures of herpes blisters…
Buy_generic pills…
on November 4th, 2011 at 2:55 am
reversing alcohol induced neuropathy…
Buy_generic meds…
on November 4th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
natural cures for premature ejaculation…
Buy_generic drugs…
on November 5th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
canadian paediatric diabetes association…
Buy_now…
on November 6th, 2011 at 9:12 am
discovery of zinc in human health…
Buy_now…
on November 8th, 2011 at 1:12 am
clinical studies of clonidine…
Buy_no prescription…
on November 8th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
diet generator reviews…
Buy_it now…
on November 9th, 2011 at 3:06 am
psychiatric care model…
Buy_generic meds…
on November 10th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
maple syrup and lemon juice diet…
Buy_it now…
on November 11th, 2011 at 8:26 am
most successful diet ever…
Buy_generic pills…
on November 12th, 2011 at 9:26 am
sleep apnea side effect of lexapro…
Buy_generic pills…
on November 14th, 2011 at 3:06 am
regulations for dementia units…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on December 11th, 2011 at 9:08 am
benadryl dogs…
Buy_generic drugs…