58
moving some structures to other places, and building the infrastructure to help
restore the stream, including a sewage system, roads, bridges, landscaping, and
lighting [ 15 ]. During the development process, the general public, specialists, and
interest groups formed a citizens’ committee and offered their opinions. On the
other hand, those opposed criticized the government-led restoration project, and
coalesced around main three groups [ 16 ]: (1) The fi rst to step forward were academic groups such as the Environmental Sociology Association, the Korea
Planners Association and the Environmental Impact Assessment Society. They
organized a series of academic debates that disclosed the theoretical and practical
drawbacks associated with the civil engineering-focused restoration, such as insuffi cient ecological considerations, undemocratic procedures, excessive commercial
re- development of the surroundings and an unsustainable water fl ow. (2) There
was a strong public and NGO coalition movement, organized by a citizens’ coalition, against what was regarded as an undemocratic, anti-environmental and politically manipulated restoration. (3) The last opposing force was made up of more
than 60,000 merchants along Cheonggye Road—employing 800,000 workers—
plus a large number of illegal street vendors. Most shopkeepers were worried
about the loss of business during the construction period. The merchants were
vehemently opposed to the restoration plan, so they joined the street vendors in
sometime violent demonstrations that threatened the project. The merchant group
was not only the most recalcitrant but also the most important partner from whom
Mayor Lee needed to gain consent in order to carry out the project as planned.
Unlike other opposition groups, however, the merchant group’s major concern was
to safeguard and maximize their private interests, but the group was too fragmented to be effective.
It is most desirable for a stream to receive water from its upper reaches.
However, the arguable fact still is that Cheonggyecheon requires additional fl ow
from the Han River to maintain a certain depth throughout the year. This is likely
to continue until advanced technology is in place to treat environmental hormones,
smell, and the foaming of wastewater, as well as a change in people’s perceptions
for reusing wastewater.
3.3.3.4 Leadership
Leadership and some measures were necessary to persuade the opposition groups.
The City of Seoul took some measures to ease traffi c congestion. To gauge the opinions of merchants on the impact of the restoration project on their business, the City
of Seoul held public hearings and gave presentations for each commercial block.
These steps helped to win over the Cheonggyecheon Residents and Merchants
Council and the Cheonggyecheon Merchants Association. Seoul also conducted
more than 4,000 interviews with merchants before the start of the demolition work.
Based on the opinions collected, measures were devised to address complaints
related to inconvenience to businesses. Additional measures were devised for stimulating business activity that considered the unique character of the Cheonggyecheon
commercial district, which is made up of several business quarters with widely
M. Onuki and K.J. An
moving some structures to other places, and building the infrastructure to help
restore the stream, including a sewage system, roads, bridges, landscaping, and
lighting [ 15 ]. During the development process, the general public, specialists, and
interest groups formed a citizens’ committee and offered their opinions. On the
other hand, those opposed criticized the government-led restoration project, and
coalesced around main three groups [ 16 ]: (1) The fi rst to step forward were academic groups such as the Environmental Sociology Association, the Korea
Planners Association and the Environmental Impact Assessment Society. They
organized a series of academic debates that disclosed the theoretical and practical
drawbacks associated with the civil engineering-focused restoration, such as insuffi cient ecological considerations, undemocratic procedures, excessive commercial
re- development of the surroundings and an unsustainable water fl ow. (2) There
was a strong public and NGO coalition movement, organized by a citizens’ coalition, against what was regarded as an undemocratic, anti-environmental and politically manipulated restoration. (3) The last opposing force was made up of more
than 60,000 merchants along Cheonggye Road—employing 800,000 workers—
plus a large number of illegal street vendors. Most shopkeepers were worried
about the loss of business during the construction period. The merchants were
vehemently opposed to the restoration plan, so they joined the street vendors in
sometime violent demonstrations that threatened the project. The merchant group
was not only the most recalcitrant but also the most important partner from whom
Mayor Lee needed to gain consent in order to carry out the project as planned.
Unlike other opposition groups, however, the merchant group’s major concern was
to safeguard and maximize their private interests, but the group was too fragmented to be effective.
It is most desirable for a stream to receive water from its upper reaches.
However, the arguable fact still is that Cheonggyecheon requires additional fl ow
from the Han River to maintain a certain depth throughout the year. This is likely
to continue until advanced technology is in place to treat environmental hormones,
smell, and the foaming of wastewater, as well as a change in people’s perceptions
for reusing wastewater.
3.3.3.4 Leadership
Leadership and some measures were necessary to persuade the opposition groups.
The City of Seoul took some measures to ease traffi c congestion. To gauge the opinions of merchants on the impact of the restoration project on their business, the City
of Seoul held public hearings and gave presentations for each commercial block.
These steps helped to win over the Cheonggyecheon Residents and Merchants
Council and the Cheonggyecheon Merchants Association. Seoul also conducted
more than 4,000 interviews with merchants before the start of the demolition work.
Based on the opinions collected, measures were devised to address complaints
related to inconvenience to businesses. Additional measures were devised for stimulating business activity that considered the unique character of the Cheonggyecheon
commercial district, which is made up of several business quarters with widely
M. Onuki and K.J. An