For my latest Korea Times article I looked at the history of the uncovering of Cheonggyecheon Stream ahead of an RAS Korea walk I’m leading to a few (air-conditioned) museums on July 11.
This is certainly not the first time I've written about the topic - I covered it 20 years ago on this blog here (where I criticized many of Lee Myung-bak's claims about the stream) and here, an a year later here.
A few photos below (taken by me) show how the area has changed over 23 years.
Cheonggye Expressway next to the shoe market at Dongdaemun, March 9, 2003.
Cheonggye Expressway next to the Peace Market at Dongdaemun, March 9, 2003.
I searched for aerial photos (
here) and found this shot which shows the two pedestrian overpasses I took the photos from.
Cheonggyecheon’s construction proceeds at Cheonggye-2ga, August 2, 2004 (looking west).
Cheonggyecheon’s construction proceeds at Cheonggye-2ga, August 2, 2004 (looking east).
The same view at Cheonggye-2ga today gives some sense of the changes that have occurred over 22 years.
Cheonggyecheon’s opening weekend, October 2, 2005.
Cheonggyecheon’s opening weekend, October 2, 2005.
A shot of Yoon Do-hyun
performing at Seoul Plaza on October 2, 2005, shortly before I passed by a very happy-looking Lee Myung-bak.
A year and a half after opening, bushes and grass had taken root, June 3, 2007.
Remnants of the old expressway, June 3, 2007.
An egret stalks fish at Cheonggyecheon's west end, July 17, 2021.
Almost 16 years after opening, trees cast shade near Supyogyo, July 17, 2021. When I walked by here two weeks ago, I tried to take the same shot but got rather confused when I couldn't find the 3 trees on the right. Unfortunately, they were cut down during the past year.
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