Cheonggyecheon Stream

The history of Cheonggyecheon dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, when it served as a natural drainage system for the capital. King Taejong initiated the first major dredging project to prevent flooding, and King Yeongjo later established a dedicated government office for its maintenance. For centuries, it was a central part of daily life in Seoul, where residents gathered to wash clothes and socialize along its banks. Following the Korean War, the area surrounding the stream became a crowded slum as refugees flocked to the city. In the name of modernization and sanitation, the South Korean government began covering the stream with concrete in 1958, eventually constructing a massive elevated highway over it by 1971. This transformation symbolized the country's rapid industrialization but also buried a significant piece of Seoul's ecological and cultural heritage under layers of asphalt and pollution. In 2003, a visionary restoration project was launched by then-Mayor Lee Myung-bak to remove the decaying highway and uncover the stream. Despite initial public skepticism and logistical challenges, the project was completed in 2005, creating an 11-kilometer urban park. Today, it stands as a global model for urban renewal, significantly lowering local temperatures, improving biodiversity, and providing a serene public space that connects the historic and modern districts of Seoul.