On the 1st, marking the 20th anniversary of the Cheonggyecheon restoration, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said he would carry on the legacy left by Cheonggyecheon with the "Jicheon Renaissance," which will extend across all 334 kilometers of Seoul.
At the 20th anniversary ceremony for the Cheonggyecheon restoration held that afternoon at Cheonggye Plaza, Oh said, "Cheonggyecheon has now become part of our daily lives and culture. Thanks to Cheonggyecheon, the quality of life in Seoul has clearly changed."
Addressing former President Lee Myung-bak, who led the restoration of Cheonggyecheon, he said, "From a car-centered city to one centered on people and nature, from a city of filling in to a city of emptying and dwelling, you completely changed Seoul's philosophy," adding, "I extend deep respect and gratitude for that decision."
He added, "If Cheonggyecheon was a miracle that revived the heart of the city, the Jicheon Renaissance will reach neighborhood streams everywhere and make the daily lives of Seoul residents healthier and richer," and, "A city where children romp at the water's edge, seniors rest along wind corridors, and history and culture flow together with nature—that is Seoul's future."
Oh said, "Today is an occasion to commemorate the past 20 years and to prepare for the next 200 years," adding, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will carry on the spirit of Cheonggyecheon to create bigger and richer changes across neighborhood streams."
In his congratulatory remarks, former President Lee Myung-bak said, "Through Cheonggyecheon, many cities nationwide began to preserve streams and the environment, and it had a significant impact around the world." He continued, "It was thanks to the cooperation of Seoul residents, 220,000 merchants, and 1,000 street vendors," adding, "I also extend my thanks to the Seoul public officials who worked day and night."
Lee also said, "By dismantling the elevated road over Cheonggyecheon, we were able to create a dedicated median bus lane, and something unprecedented in the world happened—a shift to mass transit at the center," adding, "There was a lot of opposition at the time, but the perspective was to move from car-centered to people-centered." He went on, "As Mayor Oh has been infusing Cheonggyecheon with culture and the arts, it is continuing to develop," and, "I think Seoul will become a new landmark where second- and third-generation K-pop Demon Hunters will emerge."
In addition to Mayor Oh and former President Lee, the event was attended by Seoul Metropolitan Council Chair Choi Ho-jung, National Assembly members Na Kyung-won and Bae Hyun-jin, Jongno District Mayor Jeong Moon-heon, Jung District Mayor Kim Gil-seong, and Jang Seok-hyo, former vice mayor for administrative affairs 2 of Seoul, who served as head of the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Promotion Headquarters 20 years ago.