, newly reborn as a green city through the Hangang(Han riv.) Renaissance Project

Table of Contents

Ⅰ. Introduction 2 Ⅱ. Enhancement of the Natural and Built Landscape 4 Ⅲ. Arts, Culture, and Heritage Management 10 Ⅳ. Environmental Best Practices 13 Ⅴ. Community Participation and Empowerment 16 Ⅵ. Healthy Lifestyle 18 Ⅶ. Strategic Planning 20

The Hangang Project Headquarters, the Seoul Metropolitan Government

- 1 - Ⅰ Introduction : City of Seoul and the Hangang

City of Seoul

[Location] Seoul is at the heart of the Korean Peninsula. The city is also conveniently located in the middle of several major northeast Asian metropolises, such as Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei. Its total area is 605.41 square kilometers, making it a truly large metropolis. [Population : One-fourth of the Korean ] As of the end of 2007, Seoul had a population of some 10,421,782 people with a total of 4,046,000 households. This represented roughly a quarter of the population of the Republic of Korea, despite the city accounting for less than 1 percent of the country’s area. [Climate] Like the rest of Korea, Seoul experiences four distinct seasons. As Seoul has become urbanized, it has developed into a heat island like other urban centers around the world. [Natural Environment Surrounded by Mountains and Rivers] Seoul sits in a natural basin. Surrounding the city are a number of peaks of 500 meters or more above sea level. The mountains were a key reason behind the location's selection as the national capital. More importantly, The Hangang(the Han riv.) bisects the city east to west, flowing in a broad "W" pattern. From ancient time, the Hangang has provided Koreans water, which is essential for living.

Through the Hangang Reniassance Project, Seoul has become greener and more "liveable"!

- 2 - Like other major cities, Seoul has experienced its fair share of pollution as it has developed, although policies enacted to counter pollution have resulted in the city becoming considerably greener and cleaner. The restoration of the Hangang, establishment of , and the creation of so-called “green belts” around the capital have helped pump fresh air into the city, making it an even more pleasant place to live.

The Hangang

The Hangang, about 500km long, is the largest and longest river in Korea. North and south Hangang in the upstream merge into one in Gyeonggi Province and it flows to the West Sea. The river crosses the center of Seoul from east to west, streaming along 41.5km. In Seoul, the total surface area of the river is 40㎢, comprising about 7% of the city. The Hangang itself is Korea's history and life. in the present, as well as the past, Koreans have lived with the gently flowing the Hangang at the heart of their lives. And now Koreans will be able to live in an environment with a more beautiful, more enriched, and more pleasant Hangang thanks to the Hangang Renaissance Project. The Hangang Renaissance is a new chapter in the long history of this river and create a new brand of Seoul as a world-class green city by discovering the river's potential values and infinite possibilities.

- 3 - Ⅱ Enhancement of the Natural and Built Landscape

The Seoul's waterfront landscape to be transformed through the Hangang Renaissance Project

The Hangang Renaissance Project

The Hangang Renaissance Project is power to change the Hangang and also city of Seoul. The project, which started by reflecting on the modernization process, is designed to resolve the Han's problems and prepare a cornerstone to transform the river into a hub for the development of Seoul that meets our era of change. In other words, the Hangang Renaissance Project sets out to achieve Seoul's urban innovation by recognizing the river as Seoul's major ecological and cultural resource and focusing on it as a significant growth engine. At the same time, the project focuses on restoring the intrinsic functions of the Hangang as the way to revitalize the Hangang most effectively. The goal is to restore its boundless utility, which has been on display throughout its long history.

【Goals and Vision of the Hangang Renaissance Project】

- 4 - Changes of the Hangang is modern, but not harmful to nature

The Hangang Renaissance Project has modernized the city's infrastructure along the river so that people can enjoy waterfront spaces more safely and conveniently. Outdated and decrepit facilities has been renovated or changed into completely new ones. The project is not only modern but also eco-friendly. Every process of the project has been carried out within a boundary that it must not ruin nature and ecological system in any circumstances. The Hangang Renaissance Project seeks to restore the damaged relationship among people, water, and nature. under the one of its primary goals, "Restoration", the project enables citizens reach more closely to the Hangang and have a new understanding the river's value.

Riverside parks to be reborn beautifully

The appearance of Seoul has been transformed, propelled by the metamorphosis of the Hangang. First of all, twelve riverside parks alongside the Hangang will have been reborn as premier cultural spaces with respective themes. It is all designed in consideration of the land-use situations of the hinterland areas and citizens' patterns of park use. In 2009, first four parks out of twelve reopened after two year-renovation process; those are the Banpo, the , the Ttukseom, and the Nanji Hangang parks. Furthermore, all of three ecological parks were just completed when the Yeouido Saetgang(small river)

- 5 - Ecological Park opened last May. The Gangseo Wetland Ecological Park and the Amsa Ecological Park previously opened in Dec 2009. Each park has been uniquely designed to promote development appropriate for themes considering the land use of hinterland areas, economic and cultural values, and potential. In the result of that, the Hangang's riverside parks are fostered into hubs of culture, tourism, and leisure, equipped with spaces open to the waterfront and landmark buildings in harmony with the river. For example, the Yeouido is a core business and cultural area and is created as the Hangang's representative park. A 2km section created by piling up earth through the improvement of the cross-sections of embankments will be utilized as premium and high-quality cultural space. It is a space equipped with a remarkable "floating stage", which accomplishes a beautiful scenery by itself, pleasant cafe and activity space where events take place on an ongoing basis. It is also made in harmony with the nearby the Yeouido Saetgang(small river) Ecological park.

- 6 - 【the Banpo Hangang Park : Moonlight, Culture, Fantasy】

Moonling Rainbow Fountain "the Longest Bridge Fountain" -the Guiness World Records 2009

․ Area : 3.94ha ․ Length : 2.4km ․ Period : Sep. 2007 ~ April. 2009

Moonling Square

【the Yeouido Hangang Park : Dream, Hope, Aviation】

Floating Stage

․ Area : 78.5ha ․ Length : 3.4km ․ Period : Sep. 2007 ~ Sep. 2009 Cascade

- 7 - 【the Ttukseom Hangang Park : Amusement, Game, Sports】

J-bug(Observatory&Cultural Complex)

․ Area : 4.55ha ․ Length : 2.6km ․ Period : Sep. 2007 ~ Sep. 2009 Outdoor Swimming Pool

【the Nanji Hangang Park : Ecology, Experience, Youth】

Eco-Wetland

․ Area : 77ha ․ Length : 3.2km ․ Period : Sep. 2007 ~ Sep. 2009 Camping Ground

- 8 - Concrete Revetments to be Natural Revetments

The Hangang Renaissance Project has removed the concrete revetments of the Hangang, which are regarded as a by-product of the city's expansion and rapid growth, and experience nature itself. The revetments that have been built along the Hangang has been changed into natural streams. It is planned that the ratio of natural revetments, which was no more than 14% of current the total in 2008, will be gradually increased to 87%(72㎞ out of 82㎞) by 2014. The 21㎞-long natural revetments were completed in Dec. 2009. Also, the shape of the revetments will vary, depending on hydraulic characteristics and conditions of embankment spaces. Most of them, with the exception of cases where the width of embankments is narrow, will be created in the shape of gradual slopes. Through such efforts, the living environment for fish and aquatic plants in the Hangang will be improved and they will also be transformed into a waterfront space which people can enjoy and experience more intimately.

- 9 - Ⅲ Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Hangang itself is a Natural Heritage

The Hangang itself is the national heritage of Korea. The river is a rich repository of natural resources and many kinds aquatic animals and plants. Also, it was a major hub of trade, transportation, and logistics, and a space for leisure. Around it, people have gathered and managed their lives. They have gained water for live, avoided the heat every summer, opened market, ferried products between Korea and China, and river South and river North. Again, the Hangang has taken a essential part of Korea's history and life. To preserve and restore the Hangang means a lot to us.

Ecosystem Preservation Area in the Hangang

Seoul has tried to hard to restore and recover the deteriorated nature in the city. As a part of this effort, the (the Bam islet) was designated for the ecosystem preservation areas by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 1999. A pair of uninhabitable islests, The Bamseom is valuable as the only habitat of migratory birds in the center of downtown. About 70kinds of 3,000 migratory birds visit this islet, 273,503㎡. Also a part of the Amsa and the Godeok Hangang parks has been preserved as a ecosystem and landscape conservation area. Especially, the Godeok Hangang Park is registered for the green

- 10 - belt, and water source reserve area, so it has been remained in a fine state of nature.

【the Bamseom View and Birds in the Islets】

Create Eco-Friendly Park

The Hangang has been born as a space filled with life and vitality. As a part of the Hangang Renaissance Project, total 12.9ha area of 3 ecological pars has been constructed : Gangseo Wetland Eco-Park, Yeuido Saetgang Eco-park, and Amsa Hangang Eco-Park. The total area was increased about 44%(7.2ha->12.9ha). With these eco-parks, there are total 1,601 kinds of animals and plants living in the Hangang parks according to the recent research. Also, the figure has been increased about 9% from 1,450(2002). This figure will be increased more since the project extended a possible area of habitats of animals and plants. Since this subject is overlapping with a discussion of the "Environmental Best Practice" criteria, it will be more specifically mentioned in next chapter.

- 11 - Learn and Experience Nature in the Eco-Hangang Park

The Seoul's efforts for inherit and develop cultural tradition don't finish with just making eco friendly parks. The efforts is continued by offering various kinds of learning and experience program in the eco friendly Hangang parks. Recently, total 39 kinds of educational programs are managed throughout the eight Hangang parks. not only children, but also adults and families can learn nature in the Hangang.

【Observation of Tadpole】 【the Straw Arts】 Hangang Parks to be created with themes

Each Hangang Park is designed with unique themes considering the characteristics of its hinterland and historical events. It is the result of another diligent trials to inherit history of the Hangang so as of Seoul. The Yeouido Hangang Park used to a airfield from 1916 to 1971 and the airfield where a Korean aviator Mr. Ahn did the first attempt to make a flight in Korea. About 50,000 Koreans, one-fifth of total population at that time, gathered in the park to eyewitness the historical event. To commemorate the event, an open field, so called "Neorun(spacious, wide)" field is created and has been used for a space which major festivals and events take a place in.

- 12 - Ⅳ Environmental Best Practice

The Hangang, Breathing and Alive!

The Hangang Renaissance Project is a macroscopic, long term project of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and under active progress since 2007 targeting to complete in 2030. It has been prepared carefully and studied all the related aspects thoroughly to accomplish its primary goals, "Creation," and "Restore". In the result of the 1st stage of the project, the Hangang has been reborn as a space filled with life and vitality. It is also planned to transform it into a healthier river by establishing ecological networks encompassing the river and its tributaries and significantly expanding and connecting core ecological areas such as eco-parks by zones and the areas where the tributaries come together.

The Eco-Friendly Hangang Parks designed by Nature

The ecological parks around Hangang are changing by expanding the capacity of the park and by increasing the kinds and the numbers of the planting plants. Eco-Hangang parks are upgraded into more eco-friendly spaces and will be places as the shelter of water animals and plants, the children's place to study nature and the comfortable rest area of civilian. Several kinds of birds registered for natural monuments are observed in the eco-Hangang parks; sparrow hawk(no.33*), brown hawk-owl(no.324*), mandarin duck(no.327*), white taled eagle(no.243*). Also, narrow-mouth toads has been discovered recently in the Gangse Wetland Eco-Park, it is one of endangered species registered by the ministry of Culture,

- 13 - Sports, and Tourism of Korea. * the serial number of the Korean Natural Monument.

Category Total Plants Fish Bird Herptile Insect Mammal

Number 1,601 902 71 98 19 498 13 of Kinds cornet ardeidae, frog, reed, fish, dragonfly, rabbit,elk, Examples whooper narrow-moth weed chinese ladybug weasel swan toad herring

【Rabbit】 【Duck】 Expanding the capacity The Gangseo Wetland Eco-Park expanded its capacity from 340,000㎡ to 370,000㎡ was opened in Dec. 2008. Also, the first ecological park in Korea, the Yeouido Saetgang Eco-Park has been drastically expanded its area from 182,000㎡ to 758,000㎡.

【The Gangseo Wetland Eco-Park】 【The Yeouido Saetgang Eco-Park】

- 14 - Designation for conservation area and applying integrated system for managing Three part of the Hangang parks have been designated for the nature conservation area and managed with the integrated system by the "Nature Conservation Law". Around the Hangang, there are three areas protected by the law and they are The Gangseo Wetland Eco-Park, the Amsa Eco-Park, and the Bamseom.

Fish Friendly Fishway(Underwater-Weir) to be Made

With the scale of 4m in width and 228m in length, the Fish Way helps the weak fishers to jump up to the high stairs of underwater-weir to go up-streams of river along this way, their movements becomes an attraction to many citizens visiting this place.

【Fish Way in Jamsil Hangang Park】

Water Friendly Revetments to be Made

Steep slope of the concrete revetments has been transformed into water friendly revetments. It updates the scenery and also makes people be closer to the river.

- 15 - Planting Trees and Plants Produced in Our Own Parks

Trees and plants filling in eco-friendly parks has been produced also in other Hangang parks. It resulted in curtailment of expenditure about 152million when buying trees and plants and the project of building eco-friendly parks was completed faster than expectation. The total area of planting fields is 25,700㎡ in the five Hangang parks. Also, total 54,097 unit of eleven kinds of trees and plants like willow, metasequoia, lawn grass, and so on, had been planted and moved to four eco-Hangang parks. The process is as below.

The Amsa The Gannseo Wetland Item Planting Reeds Eco-Hangang Park Hangang Park

Before

After

Ⅴ Community Participation and Empowerment

One of the Hangang Renaissance project's values is communication. So we have provided many kinds of opportunities for the public to participate in the decision making process. People from all walks of life have taken part in the various processes of

- 16 - project and many of their opinions were reflected positively. The methods of community participation are the following;

Hangang Renaissance Citizen's Committee

The Hangang Renaissance Citizen's Committee was organized from the very beginning of the project. The Citizen's Committee consists of four small committees: the planning committee, the environment and security committee, the history, culture and tourist committee and the life and traffic committee. They consists of 24 members by request and three committee members to give a total 27 members. There are mainly specialists from each field and members of NGOs of the city council. These Citizen's Committees have played an important role in forming and implementing the project and the diverse opinions of the Committees have improved the Project and made it more balanced.

Seoul Citizen's Idea Oasis

Any Seoul citizen could submit any suggestion related to municipal administration through the Seoul Citizen's Idea Oasis website, which was awarded the UN Public Service Award 2009. Many citizen's suggestions have been submitted this way; some of them related to the Hangang Renaissance Project. Whenever we receive suggestions about our project, we verify the validity of each idea and adopt the suggestion as policy if it is reasonable. An example of such was the adoption as policy of the Moonlight Rainbow Fountains in the Banpo Hangang Park, which is the longest bridge fountains in the Guinness

- 17 - Book of Records. Besides this, we have also accepted a diversity of the citizen's ideas and have made them feasible policies.

Public involvement

The Hangang Renaissance Project involves citizen participation in the process of implementation. For example, in April, we arranged the planting of trees in the ecological parks by the united efforts of officials and citizens together and sometimes we carried out a cleaning campaign involving volunteers from all walks of life.

Ⅵ Healthy Lifestyle

The purpose of the Hangang Renaissance Project is to give a rejuvenated Hangang back to Seoul citizens and to have them enjoy it. Hangang is the place where citizens can refresh themselves, exercise and enjoy various sports.

Ecological Parks

The ecological parks that have been established around the Hangang were meant to restore the local ecosystem to its original state. Many trees were planted in these ecological parks, which makes the air of Seoul fresher than ever. Here, citizens are able to commune with nature and enjoy taking a stroll and exercising. We initiated ecological educational programs for the whole family but that specifically furnished children with the opportunity to learn about the wonders and preciousness of nature.

- 18 - Bikeway

Hangang Parks has a combined Bikeway of 80.7 km and contains 12 bicycle rental shops for the convenience of citizens. The bikeway is safe because it is a completely distinct from the trail or road. While riding along the cycling path, bicycle riders can not only use the leisure sports facilities in Hangang Park but also drop by the local tourist attractions and cultural remains. Because of the beautiful scenery near Hangang, the number of riders keeps on growing. Sporting Facilities

There are 257 sporting facilities where citizens can play soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis and so on. We have committed ourselves toward invigorating and increasing citizen and participation in community sports through the opening of these sporting facilities. Many clubs can enjoy team sports by the Hangang on holidays. We also open six swimming pools during the summer that provide citizens with all manner of water related fun. The Hangang swimming pools are popular family destinations and are used by many children during the summer vacation.

Water sports

Many kinds of water sports such as yachting, water skiing, wind surfing and wakeboarding can be enjoyed on the Hangang during the summer. In an effort to expand the base of water sports, we hold a summer water festival every year in July or August. We also

- 19 - strongly advertise these new activities to inform as many citizens as possible about the fun and healthy activities awaiting them.

Cultural Contents

In the Hangang Parks we provide citizens many kinds of cultural content such as concerts and exhibitions. The Cultural Complex in Ttuksome Hangang Park holds a photo exhibition and art show by famous artists. The Floating stage of Yeouido Hangang Park holds a concert every weekends. Many people enjoy this outdoor concert and revel in the fantastic mood of the beautiful park. Such cultural content contributes towards satisfying citizens' desire for cultural stimulation.

Ⅶ Strategic Planning

The Hangang Renaissance Project is a macroscopic, long-term comprehensive plan to comprehensively transform the appearance of the Hangang. It is a plan that reflect the city's future vision to become a sustainable city. The plan is alive. It will evolve and will be modified continuously. Until now, the Hangang Renaissance Master Plan has enhanced its substance and heightened the comprehensiveness of the plan through the collection of various opinions and by making the plan open to public debate through the Hangang Renaissance Citizens' Committee, international symposiums, and briefing sessions for residents.

- 20 - In order to ensure the successful implementation of the plan, a comprehensive and collaborative system involving the central government, local governments in the Hangang areas, and related academic institutions should be established. As a parallel effort, various institutional frameworks will be sought to elicit brisk investment by the private sector to minimize the financial burden on the city government. The Hangang Renaissance Project will be implemented in a phased manner in consideration of the city's financial constraints, economic investment impact, technical feasibility, social and cultural conditions, and land-use situations of the hinterland areas of the river.

As a short-term plan, by 2010, which is the birth and growth phase of the Hangang Renaissance Project, 33 projects have been implemented, such as the recovery of the natural ecology of the area through several projects including, the specialization of four riverside Yeouido, Nanji, Banpo, and Ttukseom, which are most frequently used by citizens ecological parks; the creation of the cultural and tourism foundations; improvement of accessibility; and promotion of the use of water transportation. By 2020, when the Yellow Sea has been opened and a beautiful waterfront city has been created and nature restored completely through the Hangang Renaissance Project, the vision of becoming the Hangang of the world and one of the world's top-tier cities will be realized.

- 21 - The new era of the Hangang has just begun. The city of Seoul keeps trying to make a better place for our citizen to live pleasantly and eco-friendly environment.

- 22 -