Cheonggyecheon River Case Study

Question 1

How much has the population grown in Seoul, South Korea from 1960 to 2010

Answer 1

5 million in 1960 to 23.5 million in 2010

Question 2

What is the population density in Seoul

Answer 2

10,400 people per km2

Question 3

How much green space does Seoul have per person

Answer 3

5.2m2 - poor in relation to other cities

Question 4

What happened to the river in 2002

Answer 4

The government announced a plan to demolish the expressway and restore 6km of the streams length
The plan took over 2 years and cost £200 million

Question 5

How did this help

Answer 5

• The stream which was previously intermittent now flows all the time
• The restoration also contributed to the availability of green space in the city by converting rooftops into gardens and a park like atmosphere is created in schools by removing walls
• larger plans include the creation of Seoul forest which was once a water treatment facility but is now five public parks covering 115 hectares
• there are also plans to convert the US army military base into a large park

Question 6

Was it a success?

Answer 6

Yes, Seoul has experienced remarkable growth since the restoration
The Cheonggyecheon’s revival has become a symbol of the movement towards a more environmentally friendly era.
The cities air quality has also much improved