Cheonggyecheon 청계천
Cheonggyecheon Stream is an 11 km-long stream that runs through downtown Seoul. Created as part of an urban renewal project, Cheonggyecheon Stream is a restoration of the stream that was once there during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The stream was covered with an elevated highway after the Korean War (1950-1953), as part of the country’s post-war economic development. Then in 2003, the elevated highway was removed to restore the stream to its present form today. The stream starts from Cheonggye Plaza, a popular cultural arts venue, and passes under a total of 22 bridges before flowing into the Hangang River, with many attractions along the way.
It is also famous as a river that symbolizes the history of urban development in Seoul. Starting with natural rivers during the pre-modern period, straightening and covering were carried out through various stream projects, and when the Cheonggye Overpass was built, it disappeared altogether, but was later restored to be reborn as a mixture of natural and artificial rivers. It officially opened on October 1, 2005.
