Marking 20 years since its revival, Cheonggyecheon, an artificially restored stream running through central Seoul, opened its upper section to the public Wednesday,
Families and tourists strolled along the section from Cheonggye Plaza to Gwangtong Bridge, which had long been off-limits, cooling off by dipping their feet in the water.
Children turned the stream into a playground, splashing near the waterfall and stepping across the stones one by one.
Visitors can access the stream’s newly opened section daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 22, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Decades ago, the stream lay neglected and filled with trash beneath a highway. Restored in 2005, the 5.8-kilometer-long stream now stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, offering a summer oasis with bridges, waterfalls and lush greenery.
At Seoul City Hall on the same day, experts gathered for the 2025 Water Seoul International Conference to explore Cheonggyecheon’s 20-year legacy and the future of urban waterways amid the climate crisis.
Meanwhile, a talk will be held Friday at Cheonggye Plaza, where Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Yoo Hyun-joon, a professor of architecture at Hongik University, will discuss the stream’s past and future with citizens.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
