Cheonggyecheon Restored
Environment-, Ecology-Friendly
The stream is coming to life

The historic work of demolishing the obsolete elevated road built over the Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul, a subject of safety concerns among motorists, has been finished without major accidents after dealing with woes like merchant protests and traffic concerns. The stream is restored to what was the one reminiscent of the ancient past, giving a new lease of life as an environmentally-friendly, human-oriented urban space.
"The restored stream is making the metropolis urban environment pleasant and comfortable and its ecosystem coming to life"said Chang Suk-hyo, assistant mayor for the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project, in an interview with NewsWorld. He was recently appointed to be second vice Seoul mayor.
"A comparison of surveys made before and after the restoration shows that the temperature has been lowered by three or four degrees, a new path of fresh wind is created and minute dust and carbon monoxide concentrations have dwindled,"he said.
The following are the excerpts of the interview.
Question: Could you tell our readers about urban development and ecological and environment changes the restoration of Cheonggyecheon Stream is bringing about?
Answer: The project is aimed at not only flowing water, but also restoring history, culture and life. It has a great impact on the urban development. The restored stream is making the metropolis urban environment pleasant and comfortable and its ecosystem is coming to life.
A comparison of surveys made before and after the restoration shows that the temperature has been lowered by three or four degrees, a new path of fresh wind is created and minute dust and carbon monoxide concentrations have dwindled.
With the restoration of forgotten cultural relics along with the stream, Seoul emerges as an attractive city for foreign tourists and investors. Those who use and enjoy the restored stream are expected to surge, so drastic changes in uses of surrounding lands will accelerate redevelopment and reconstruction. In this context, the Seoul Metropolitan government has already established an urban center development plan and, and it will continue to manage the restored stream in a bid to transform the area into an international center.
Besides the environmental and economic effects, we expect the restored stream to make Seoulites feel comfortable and abundant mentally.
Q: What are the amenities for pedestrians following the restoration of the stream?
A: People can leisurely stroll along the promenades, created along both sides of the stream, that stretches from the starting point until the Han River via the Chungnyangcheon Stream. In the interests of pedestrians, there are 23 approach stairways leading to the stream and eight sloping approach roads; cycling and in-line skating are banned during the restored section; fountains and murals are installed at major points; and near major entry and exit spots have toilets available ? 85 civilian ones open to the public and 184 others.
Cheonggyecheon is within an easy access of such mass transportation means as bus and subway systems.
Shuttle buses also operate along the restored section.
Q: What is the significance of the restoration of Cheonggyecheon Stream as a cultural space?
The restored stream is attractive in that people not only stroll along promenades created amid forested areas and flowing clean water, but also enjoy such diverse cultural spaces as nearby old palaces, cultural facilities and fashion plazas.
The fountain at the 2,000-pyeong Cheonggye Plaza and the Palseokdam, a pond of eight stones from eight provinces, serve as a citizens?resting and cultural space.
Among the attractions visitors can find at the upstream of Cheonggyecheon are the Gwangtong-gyo Bridge, restored as a representative stone bridge of Joseon Dynasty, and the mural on the procession of King Jeongjo of Joseon Dynasty paying a visit to Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, and it is nearby Mary's Alley in Insa-dong, a street of antiques and artistic works.
The eye-catchers at the neighborhood of the Ogansu-gyo Bridge include mural paintings by five porcelain artists and traditional color artist Lee Kyu-han on the embankment walls, a rhythm fountain and the adjacent Dongdaemun Fashion Town.
Around the arch-type Biudang-gyo Bridge at the downstream the are the "Wall of Hope" "Lidumbeokcheon,"a kind of water-flowing fountain, three piers of the ancient Cheonggyecheon Elevated Road, "Tunnel Fountain,"and Cheonggyecheon Cultural Hall featuring the past, present and future of the stream.
With traditional plays like 'Stepping Bridge'and the performances by Cheonggyecheon street artisans, the restored Cheonggyecheon Stream promises to become Seoulites resting and cultural space combining the nature and culture.
Q: How will the restored stream be managed?
A: The stream is designed to endure downpours, hitting the Seoul area almost every 200 year, thus protecting citizens'lives and property.
The situation room of Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corp. keeps a lookout around the stream around the clock through 10 CCTV cameras.

Public address system speakers are installed every 50 meters along the stream in addition to 8,873 lightings putting on during night time. Hired watchmen make rounds around the entrance and promenade paths around the clock.
About 9,500 volunteers of the "Cheongsarang"are active for ensuring safety, sharing information and conducting activities with environmental cause.
A study into countermeasures designed to cope with sudden downpours has been commissioned as part of the metropolitan government's scheme to develop a comprehensive anti-disaster system, which will be unveiled in November.
Q: Would you explain how the quality of the clean water flowing along the restored stream is managed?
A: Cheonggyecheon bisects the metropolis center from east to west and converges with the Jungrang Tributary before flowing into the Han River. The stream is virtually dried up except the monsoon season due to its paved and urbanized surrounding areas, so water needs to be supplied artificially for the ecological and environmental restoration of the stream.
To this end, 120,000 tons of water of second grade or above is supplied per day to make a 40 cm-deep water flow along the stream. About 98,000 tons, a lions?share of the total water amounts supplied daily, is treated by the Ttukdo Purification Plant before being drawn for the stream. The remaining 22,000 tons is underground water coming from the drainage of the Cheonggyecheon subway section. An option of treating water at the advanced Jungrang Waste Water Treatment Plant in the case of emergency is under consideration. The expense for supplying water into the stream costs 5 million won per day or 1.8 billion won per year. The yearly total cost for keeping the stream environmentally-friendly is estimated at 6.9 billion won, including the expense for water supply, considered necessary given the environmental benefits the restoration of the stream brings about.
Q: Are there any measures that need to be supplemented following the restoration of the stream?
A: The SMG has conducted a test operation designed to ensure the safety of structures against possible flooding during the monsoon period since last June when the work on restoring the steam had virtually been finished. The government is quick to fix any improper parts found during the future operation.
I am very happy and excited to see an amazing crowd of approximately 2 million people swarm to the restored stream for the three days following the opening of the stream.
The vice mayor has been in charge of the Cheonggyecheon restoration project since July of last year. A native of Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Chang has a strong feeling of attachment to the project due to the memories of his campus life at Sudo Electric Technology High School, including his walk along the stream. A graduate of Seoul National University, he has been with civil engineering and construction on the road for nearly 30 years since 1976 when he started his public servant career at the SMG after passing a state-administered technology examination. nw

Second Vice Mayor Chang Suk-hyo

The performance stage along the Cheonggyecheon Stream

?all of Saekdong (Colors),?an 18m by 1.5 m mural painting by traditional color artist Lee Kyu-han near the Ogansu-gyo Bridge

The butterfly-shaped Narae-gyo Bridge in use for pedestrians