River Restoration Case Study: Cheonggyecheon River Flashcards
Where is Cheonggyecheon?
It runs West to East across the North of Seoul City Centre, South Korea
When was the river first managed?
1760, much earlier than most
What lead to the decline of the river?
Development of Shanty Town in the 1950s
Pollution of river
Covered by road
What issues did the lack of an open river present to this area of Seoul?
The lack of river-side vegetation caused environmental decline
The expressway often collapsed into the river, meaning maintenance was expensive
The river almost entirely dried up
When did regeneration of Cheonggyecheon begin?
July 2003, under Mayor Lee Myung-bak as part of Seoul’s image transformation
How much did the project cost overall?
380bn Won = US$275mn
How many people were employed to restore the river?
700,000
How did local shopkeepers react to the proposal?
They resisted as they thought it would reduce their footfall
How were the shopkeepers eventually convinced?
4000 meetings were held in the city hall, establishing a bond of trust with the citizens
What has been done in an attempt to protect the area in future?
Citizens participated in the redevelopment
The walls of the river channel were decorated with personalised tiles created by locals
This created a personal connection to the project
How long did the restoration take?
2 years and 3 months
How has the restoration positively affected Seoul?
A decrease in particulate air pollution
Reduced city centre traffic by 2.3%
Improves ecology and cleanliness of waterways
Area created for social integration
Creates a new cultural centre and tourist attraction
How many people visit Cheonngyecheon daily?
An average of 64,000 people
How many events were held along Cheonggyecheon during the 10 years after the restoration?
29,177
Where does Cheonggyecheon’s water originate from?
120,000 tons of water are pumped in from the Hangang River
