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| People walk alongside Cheonggye Stream, central Seoul, Tuesday. Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the stream's restoration. / Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Cheonggye Stream Restoration Project that transformed a traffic-choked elevated freeway into a lush walkway through the heart of Seoul.
Over the past decade, Cheonggye Stream, once concreted over beneath an elevated stretch of highway, is now one of the city's most popular attractions, visited by 19 million tourists annually.
But not all the promises pledged on the project's blueprint have been fulfilled and many street vendors, who were forced out of the area as a result of the aggressive revitalization effort, still suffer financial hardships.
Yet, most Seoul citizens are now convinced that the project, which started in 2003 amid protests, was worth the trouble.
The stream has become not only a hot attraction for foreign tourists but also a recreational area for families and office workers who work nearby.
Other than being a tourist magnet, the restored stream has improved the quality of life of the capital's citizens. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), surface temperatures in summer near the stream were an average of 1.7 to 3.3 degrees Celsius lower than in other areas of the city.
Moreover, many species of birds have returned. Today people can see more types of fish, insects and plants in what used to be a slum of sweatshops, metal bashing and poverty. The variety of wildlife has increased significantly since the restoration, according to the city-run Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corp.
In addition, the stream today is a favorite spot for artists and entertainers in Seoul, and a venue for various performances and cultural events. Last year, about 1,990 large and small events were held there, according to the SMG.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the SMG displayed prize-winning pictures of its Cheonggye Stream photo contest at Cheonggye Plaza, the public square where the stream begins.
Yet, the project is not regarded as a success for everyone.
One complaint about it is the cost. The SMG spent 386 billion won ($323 million) on construction and it spends 7 to 8 billion won every year on maintenance, including pumping 120,000 tons of water from the Han River into the stream every day.
However, some say the expenditure is worthwhile, considering the positive impact of the restored stream in economic terms, including boosting sales at surrounding shops and restaurants.
Another criticism voiced is from street vendors, who were forced to leave the area.
To convince 60,000 merchants to move to other districts, then Mayor Lee Myung-bak, who later became the nation's president, offered them rights to move their businesses at low cost to Garden5, a multipurpose shopping mall located in southern Seoul. But the shopping mall struggles to attract visitors.
Some also point out that the restoration was undertaken hastily without fully considering the effects on the eco system and historic sites alongside the stream.
However, for the most part, the project has gained positive reactions from here as well as abroad. At the 2004 Venice Biennale, the project won the Best Public Administration award for urban construction even before it was completed and attracted the interest of many foreign administrators who wanted to learn more about it.
