Cheonggyecheon Stream

You’re standing on one of Seoul’s most pleasant walks, tracing the course of a river that has shaped the city’s history. It was thanks to this very river, believed to channel good energy, that Seoul was chosen as the capital when the Joseon dynasty came to power. Back then, it was little more than a small stream, but it underwent major improvements: bridges were built, drainage systems installed, and the banks landscaped by royal order. In the 20th century, however, the river fell into neglect, becoming dirty and foul-smelling after the Korean War. Eventually, it was covered over and replaced by a highway, both as a symbol of Seoul’s rapid modernization and as a way to hide the poverty that had taken root along its banks. It wasn’t until 2005 that the city’s mayor, Lee Myung-bak, who would later become President of South Korea in 2008, rediscovered the buried river and decided to bring it back to life. The highway was demolished, replaced by two roads running alongside the water, and the stream was transformed into a nearly 11-kilometer pedestrian haven in the heart of the capital. Today, it’s loved not only by locals and visitors, but also by the plants and wildlife that have flourished thanks to the project. Along the way, you’ll spot murals, small stone bridges, art installations, and, most magical of all, beautiful light displays that dance across the water at night. You’re now at the final stretch of the walkway, but if you have time, explore further along, it’s well worth it.