 Transfer to sustainable urban development paradigm |
| In phase with the international efforts to adopt the concept of environmentally sound and sustainable development for the harmony between development and environment conservation, the restoration work for the Cheonggyecheon was focusing on shifting to the paradigm for a sustainable urban development for Seoul, i.e. from a development/vehicle-oriented city to a nature/human-oriented city. |
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| Recovery of eco-friendliness |
| The current world trend is favorable to an environmental-friendly urban design with people being more cautious with the quality of their life. The City of Seoul is eager to have clean water run through the Cheonggyecheon and to restore the ecosystem alongside as part of its effort to turn Seoul into an environmental-friendly city. |
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| Getting rid of risks related to the concrete covering and elevated highway |
| The concrete covering up the stream and the elevated highway built respectively in 1958 and 1971, were getting too old and thus some concerns regarding their safety had been expressed. |
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Amount of methane gas beneath the concrete covering:
42 ppm, i.e. 23 times more than that measured at nearby places outside
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Amount of nitrogen dioxide beneath the concrete covering:
0.897 ppm, i.e. 14 times more than that measured at nearby
places outside
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Overall safety of the elevated highway: "C" (some sections show "D" or "E") Expense for repairing the concrete covering:
2 billion won every year The US Forces in Korea banned the
use of the elevated highway in the mid-1990s.
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| Restoration of historical and cultural spaces |
| The restoration work for the Cheonggyecheon is also associated with the effort to regain its pride as a nation with splendid traditional culture through restoring some historical objects like Gwangtonggyo(Bridge), a representative one built during the Joseon Dynasty. |
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Gwangtonggyo
(The first stone bridge built in the Joseon Dynasty)
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The royal procession passing the bridge
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| Balanced development between areas |
| In the Cheonggyecheon area, which is located on the north side of the Hangang(River), there were a lot of forty to fifty year-old buildings, affecting the overall appearance of the city. With the help of the momentum gained from the restoration work, the City of Seoul is willing to foster conditions to make international financial business centers handling high-end information and high-value goods in this area. That will also be part of the effort of the City of Seoul to set up a new balance in the development of the two sectors located on both sides of the Hangang. |
