[Walking Through Seoul] Seoul, the Next Steps for a Leading City in Waterway Restoration

Fifteen years ago, I first explored the Baegaksan section of the Hanyang Doseong Trail. It was a beautiful autumn day. After presenting my ID at the Cheongundae information center and receiving a permit, I struggled up a path with many stairs. The terrain of Seoul, viewed from a completely new angle atop Baegaksan, was fascinating. Among foreigners living in Seoul, many cite the abundance of mountains as the city's greatest advantage. While convenient public transportation, safe security, and fast internet speeds are also mentioned, the majority appreciate the many mountains. This opinion has been consistent since the early 1980s.

However, Seoul is not just about mountains. There are features that even Seoul citizens and foreigners alike are not well aware of, yet are as remarkable as the mountains. That is the waterways. One might immediately think of the Han River, but upon reflection, although the Han River offers wide scenic views when crossing its bridges, the many surrounding roads make it less intimate. So, what other waterways are there?

The most accessible and popular waterway is Cheonggyecheon, restored in 2005. From the 1960s, as Seoul’s population surged, the city needed new infrastructure. Seoul began widening roads and constructing underpasses and overpasses. The Cheonggyecheon elevated highway, now demolished and part of history, was a major construction project of that era. Starting in 1955, Cheonggyecheon had been gradually covered and converted into roads, and the remaining uncovered parts were all covered to build the elevated highway. As Seoul’s population continued to grow, it was considered an essential road in the congested old city center.

Yangjaecheon near Yeongdong 1-gyo, Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Entering the 2000s, Korean society began to take on the shape of a developed country. It was filled with new confidence gained from the 2002 World Cup. Interest in quality of life grew, and people started to view cities from a new perspective. Around this time, global discussions on environmental issues and climate change were intense, and projects to transform barren urban spaces into green areas were underway worldwide. As living and education standards improved, people gained more free time, and awareness spread that urban spaces greatly affect quality of life. It was in this context that the restoration of Cheonggyecheon took place. Although the restoration process was controversial, the result was a huge success: Cheonggyecheon transformed from a city center filled only with high-rise buildings into a park enjoyed by citizens, generating various ripple effects.

Changes to waterways continued. Restoration and park development of Seongbukcheon, Anyangcheon, and Yangjaecheon, which began discussions in the late 1990s, started in earnest in the early 2000s. From 2001 to 2010, Seongbukcheon, which had been covered with concrete for a long time, was revived and turned into a park.

Anyangcheon construction began in 2005, creating walking and bicycle paths alongside it, connecting the Han River to Anyang city. In the same year, a walking path was created alongside Yangjaecheon, extending to Gwacheon. Restoring the ecology of Seongbukcheon, which had been covered by roads, and the heavily polluted Anyangcheon and Yangjaecheon during their rapid growth periods was also one of the project goals. The over 50 km of walking paths and parks around these three waterways remain a great asset for citizens’ walks and relaxation.

Seoul leads the way in revitalizing waterways. The creation of the Seine River parks in Paris, which greatly influenced urban aesthetics since the 19th century, is relatively recent. In 2008, after demolishing a major riverside road, a park development project began, connecting roadless sections with floating walkways and gardens. Citizens and tourists love strolling while enjoying Paris’s historic scenery. For the 2024 Summer Olympics, the first in 100 years, the Seine’s water quality was also managed to allow swimming in the river for the first time in a century. Compared to Seoul, this was quite late.

Where should Seoul’s next steps be in leading waterway restoration and park creation? Seoul’s mountains are beautiful, and its relatively large waterways have mostly been well restored, but unfortunately, natural contact points remain lacking in many residential areas throughout the city. Apartment complexes have landscaping according to building regulations, but these are only for residents and present high barriers to the general public. Elsewhere, in low-rise multi-family housing dense areas, traces of nature are hard to find. As redevelopment continues, Seoul is showing polarization even in its connection with nature.

How can this problem be solved? There are several ways if we just shift our perspective a little. The most realistic method would be to restore other waterways as has been done with many over the past 20 years. There are still many covered waterways in alleys throughout Seoul. Most are used as roads, but if these roads were removed, the waterways restored, and the surroundings developed into walking paths that connect with nature, it would be beneficial. If budget and traffic conditions are issues, partial restoration where possible would be fine. For example, instead of fully restoring Segyocheon, which flowed from Yonsei University’s North Gate through Mangwonjeong to the Han River, partial restoration focused on the residential areas lacking green space could be considered. The partially restored Banghakcheon in Dobong-gu would be a good reference.

Since many waterways have disappeared, rather than being fixated on full restoration, another method is to symbolically recreate old waterways as artificial streams during landscaping projects. This approach allows nature to be introduced into dense urban spaces more easily without large-scale construction. Examples include Junghakcheon behind the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun and the symbolic water flow and landscaping of Heungdeokdongcheon in Daehak-ro. These places created new landscapes with walking spaces centered around small streams and benches for citizens to rest. Since many small waterways have disappeared in Seoul, creating such spaces could effectively secure areas for citizens in barren residential neighborhoods.

Waterways serve as spaces for citizens, beautify the city’s aesthetics, and act as wind corridors. They also help lower actual and perceived temperatures in hot summer cities, making them an important factor affecting quality of life in the era of climate change. Since Seoul has taken the lead in creating waterways, why not direct its next steps toward further revitalizing small waterways throughout the city?

Robert Fauzer, Former Professor at Seoul National University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.