Pedestrians walk along the restored Cheonggyecheon stream in central Seoul, where an elevated highway once stood.
SEOUL · May 4, 2026 : Two decades after the demolition of the Cheonggye Overpass, the restored Cheonggyecheon stream stands as a global benchmark for urban highway removal. Today, the 5.8-kilometer waterway draws 60,000 visitors daily, proving that removing heavy transit infrastructure can catalyze ecological recovery and economic vitality without triggering the traffic collapse many once feared.
From Infrastructure to Ecosystem
The restoration replaced 169,000 daily car trips with a thriving riparian corridor. Beyond its role as a tourist landmark, the project has introduced over 600 species of flora and fauna into the city’s concrete core and mitigated the urban heat island effect. It serves as physical proof for the thesis shared by urbanists like Anne Hidalgo and Norman Foster: the city begins when you remove the cars.
The Next Phase of Pedestrianization
The success of Cheonggyecheon is now fueling a broader pedestrian vision for Seoul. City officials are evaluating extensions of pedestrian-only zones around Gwanghwamun and the historic center. This includes a revamped bike-sharing network designed to shift inner-city logic from transit through-put to resident dwell-time, echoing "15-minute city" models pioneered in Europe.
A Global Case Study for Resilience
As cities grapple with aging infrastructure, Seoul’s 20-year data set offers a rare long-term view. The project required 4,700 meetings with stakeholders to resolve conflicts, proving urban transformation is a political achievement as much as a design one. For global cities, the lesson is clear: restoring the environment is the most effective form of urban care.
Source: https://english.seoul.go.kr/
