Cheonggyecheon Stream

Even before Seoul became the capital of Joseon, a natural watercourse ran here. In Seoul, ringed by mountains on all sides, water gathered in the low-lying centre of the walled city. It dried up in spring and autumn when rain was scant, but in the summer rainy season it overflowed with just a little rain, and it was common for houses to flood and bridges to be swept away.

The stream was first worked on in earnest under Taejong. From 1406 to 1407 the bed was dug out and widened and embankments were built on both sides, and in December 1411 a temporary office, the Gaecheon Dogam, was set up, and from 15 January the following year a major project was carried out for one month with 52,800 workers. Both embankments were built of stone, and bridges such as Gwangtonggyo and Hyejeonggyo were turned into stone bridges. The word gaecheon, meaning “digging a stream”, from that project became the name for what is now Cheonggyecheon.

Sejong improved the small watercourses flowing into the main stream to prevent flooding in the city centre, and in 1441 had a marker stone with graduated marks set up in the water west of Majeongyo to measure the water level. This is the supyo. There was a dispute between the view that, by feng shui, the stream should always be kept clear, and the view that a walled city with many people needed a stream to carry away waste; Sejong accepted the latter, and Cheonggyecheon was settled as a stream for daily life.

In the mid-20th century the stream was covered over. Gwangtonggyo was buried under the road in 1958, and Supyogyo was moved to Jangchungdan Park during the 1959 covering work. After that, a restoration project for Cheonggyecheon was carried out for 2 years and 3 months, from July 2003 to September 2005. It was also then that 3 piers were left standing as the elevated road was removed, to remind people of the meaning of the restoration.

When it rains, the water level rises suddenly and the walking paths flood. In the rain, follow the announcements and the safety staff, leave quickly by the nearest exit, and do not shelter under the bridges. If you are caught in the water, climb up the nearest emergency ladder or tell the control room (02-2290-7111~3) where you are.

On Cheonggyecheon, cycling and inline skating, bringing pets (except assistance dogs for people with disabilities), drinking alcohol, smoking and cooking are prohibited.

There are three walking courses. The Cheonggye History Path runs from Mojeongyo to Gwansugyo, for a total distance of 2.9 km and a time of 3 hours. The Cheonggye Vitality Path runs from Majeongyo (Gwangjang Market) to Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and the Cheonggye Rest Path from Dumuldari to Yongdap Interchange Bridge.

The fountain at the starting point runs from 1 April to 15 November, and the heart-shaped fountain at Dumuldari from 1 April to 30 November, for 50 minutes every hour from 12:00 to 21:00. The digital canvas at Gwanggyo runs from 1 March to 30 November, 19:00–21:00, and 20:00–21:30 from May to September. Samilgyo and Hwanghakgyo have elevators.

Cheonggye Plaza is about 60 m from Exit 5 of Gwanghwamun Station and about 300 m from Exit 4 of City Hall Station, and with no separate parking lot, public transport is convenient.