Cheonggyecheon (Clear Valley Stream) is an 11-kilometer-long public space and restored stream flowing through downtown Seoul, South Korea. Its significance lies in representing a massive, successful urban renewal and ecological restoration project.
Historically, the stream was a natural waterway dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. However, rapid post-war development saw it covered with concrete in the late 1950s, eventually topped by a massive elevated highway in the 1970s, symbolizing industrial modernization. By the 1990s, this structure was decaying and contributing to pollution and traffic.
In a landmark move initiated in 2003, the elevated highway was demolished, and the stream was uncovered and restored over two years. The project, completed in 2005, successfully reintroduced nature into the dense city center. Benefits include reduced urban heat island effect, improved air quality, increased biodiversity, and the creation of a vital pedestrian corridor. The stream now features numerous bridges, public art (like Claes Oldenburg’s Spring sculpture), and hosts popular cultural events like the Seoul Lantern Festival , transforming the area into a lively social and environmental asset.
