The ChonGae Canal restoration project in central Seoul, South Korea involved removing nearly four miles of elevated highways to uncover and restore seven miles of the polluted ChonGae waterway. A new park called the "Sunken Stone Garden" was built at the water's edge, creating a vibrant public space. The design accommodates 100-year storms by including high levee walls along the sides of the canal. Since the restoration, air pollution has dropped 36% along the stream, temperatures are 5 degrees lower, and biodiversity has greatly increased.

1. AMIT MAJUMDAR

2. Landscape Architect: Mikyoung Kim
Location: Central Seoul, Korea
Owner/Client: Seoul Metropolitan Governme
Project Area: 91,000 sqm [2.25 acres]
Project Year: 2007
Site info

3. Site plan
The ChonGae Canal was once a
naturally formed stream that
flowed through the heart of
Seoul, South Korea.
It served a
key role in the city’s preindus-
trial development, providing
residents with clean drinking
water, crop irrigation, and a
means of transportation

4. Between 1970- 1990 Chongae
became center of industry , but
steam lost its pride . In 2003, the city
launched a campaign to uncover
and restore seven miles of the
polluted ChonGae waterway (shown
in yellow), aligning the canal with
the city’s new vision of
sustainability. The project involved
removing nearly four miles of
elevated highways. The ChonGae
Canal Point Source Park (shown in
orange), marks the starting point of
the stream restoration in city’s
central business district
2007

5. A new park, “Sunken Stone Garden,” was built
at the water’s edge in the heart of downtown,
creating a vibrant public space that reunites
adjacent neighborhoods and reconnects the
people of Seoul to this historic waterway.

6. During the monsoon season, the
ChonGae used to overflow its banks
and cause massive flood damage to
buildings and infrastructure. The new
design, which includes high levee
walls along the sides of the canal, can
accommodate a 100-year storm.

7. Beyond its functional purpose, the new
design educates visitors about seasonal
and daily changes in water volume. Placing
stones at incremental elevations can allow
visitors to track the water level. The artful
and ever-changing appearance of this
landscape makes this an engaging public
space.

8. The ChonGae Canal attracts
visitors at all times of the day.
The site hosts numerous events
through the year including New
Year’s festivals, political rallies,
fashion shows, and rock
concerts. By attracting people
from all over the city, the park
has helped revitalize
neighborhoods and spur
business development on both
sides of the river.

9. Air pollution along the stream has
dropped 36 percent. Also, summer
temperatures along the canal are now
5 degrees lower than surrounding
areas
Just four years after the stream was
uncovered, the number of fish species has
increased from 4 to 25, bird species from 6 to
36, insect species from 15 to 192, and plant
species from 62 to 308.