59
varying interests. In response to academics and NGOs, the Cheonggyecheon
Restoration Project helped to restore the long-forgotten history and culture of Seoul.
Traditional cultural activities were revived, such as “bridge stepping” on Supyogyo
Bridge (when people go out onto the bridge to look at the full moon) and a lantern
festival. In addition, the local bridges were restored, and fundamental safety problems were resolved for the Cheonggye Elevated Highway and some of the structures
covering the stream.
3.3.3.5 After Cheonggyecheon Restoration
The impact and economic cost/benefi t were also assessed. There was the most controversy over the 24-h runoff of 120,000 tons of water from the Han River. This required
pumping and large amounts of energy that contribute to environmental problems, such
as the greenhouse effect. The most signifi cant change, however, was that millions of
visitors went to the restored district. Cultural events have been held almost every day on
the Cheonggye Plaza, located at the starting point of the waterway. The plaza has now
become the most attractive cultural civic space in central Seoul and visitors are highly
satisfi ed with their experience, as the author stated in the New York Times article.
The Cheonggyecheon restoration is known as the most successful recent example
of public policy in Korea. Yet, at the same time, it is still at the center of a controversy
because of the evaluation of its character [ 15 ]. Cheonggyecheon’s restoration has
helped to improve downtown Seoul and it is possible to view the project as part of the
“ecological modernization” of Seoul [ 16 ]. This project was led by the strong political
ambition of its initiator. According to the Seoul Development Institute, a prominent
partner in this project, willingness to pay 103,309 won per household per year
(8,609 won/month) or 356.2 billion won/year in Seoul was measured after this successful project. This implies that Cheonggyecheon’s restoration inspired different
thoughts about the quality of life and the willingness to sacrifi ce for the public good.
Citizens are now willing to pay for non-economic value and public benefi t. Thus, the
social cost: construction + congestion (loss by traffi c load) + waterway maintenance
over social benefi t: savings of repair costs (no highway maintenance) + environmental
benefi t (willingness to pay) was measured as Benefi t over Cost (B/C) = 1.85 [ 17 ] .
3.4 Features of the Compulsory Course
3.4.1 Diversity
One of unique features of the ECLA class is the student’s interdisciplinary from
either engineering/technology (the Department of Urban Engineering, UE) or sustainability science (the Graduate Program of Sustainability Science, GPSS), as well
cultural diversity from all over the world (though the majority of the students are
Asian). Students struggle with such diversity during group work, but often mutual
benefi t is greater and led to desirable outcome.
3 APIEL Compulsory Course: Environmental Challenges and Leadership in Asia
varying interests. In response to academics and NGOs, the Cheonggyecheon
Restoration Project helped to restore the long-forgotten history and culture of Seoul.
Traditional cultural activities were revived, such as “bridge stepping” on Supyogyo
Bridge (when people go out onto the bridge to look at the full moon) and a lantern
festival. In addition, the local bridges were restored, and fundamental safety problems were resolved for the Cheonggye Elevated Highway and some of the structures
covering the stream.
3.3.3.5 After Cheonggyecheon Restoration
The impact and economic cost/benefi t were also assessed. There was the most controversy over the 24-h runoff of 120,000 tons of water from the Han River. This required
pumping and large amounts of energy that contribute to environmental problems, such
as the greenhouse effect. The most signifi cant change, however, was that millions of
visitors went to the restored district. Cultural events have been held almost every day on
the Cheonggye Plaza, located at the starting point of the waterway. The plaza has now
become the most attractive cultural civic space in central Seoul and visitors are highly
satisfi ed with their experience, as the author stated in the New York Times article.
The Cheonggyecheon restoration is known as the most successful recent example
of public policy in Korea. Yet, at the same time, it is still at the center of a controversy
because of the evaluation of its character [ 15 ]. Cheonggyecheon’s restoration has
helped to improve downtown Seoul and it is possible to view the project as part of the
“ecological modernization” of Seoul [ 16 ]. This project was led by the strong political
ambition of its initiator. According to the Seoul Development Institute, a prominent
partner in this project, willingness to pay 103,309 won per household per year
(8,609 won/month) or 356.2 billion won/year in Seoul was measured after this successful project. This implies that Cheonggyecheon’s restoration inspired different
thoughts about the quality of life and the willingness to sacrifi ce for the public good.
Citizens are now willing to pay for non-economic value and public benefi t. Thus, the
social cost: construction + congestion (loss by traffi c load) + waterway maintenance
over social benefi t: savings of repair costs (no highway maintenance) + environmental
benefi t (willingness to pay) was measured as Benefi t over Cost (B/C) = 1.85 [ 17 ] .
3.4 Features of the Compulsory Course
3.4.1 Diversity
One of unique features of the ECLA class is the student’s interdisciplinary from
either engineering/technology (the Department of Urban Engineering, UE) or sustainability science (the Graduate Program of Sustainability Science, GPSS), as well
cultural diversity from all over the world (though the majority of the students are
Asian). Students struggle with such diversity during group work, but often mutual
benefi t is greater and led to desirable outcome.
3 APIEL Compulsory Course: Environmental Challenges and Leadership in Asia