20 years after restoration, stretch of Cheonggyecheon opens to public
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.
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