Suwon Stream 'Breathes Again'… Covered Section Restoration Completed

Suwon City announced on the 9th that it has completed the restoration work of removing the concrete cover from the covered section of Suwon Stream between Jidong Bridge and Maegyo Bridge, and will hold a Suwon Stream Restoration Festival at Jidong Bridge Plaza on the 21st.

The city explained the significance of the Suwon Stream restoration, stating that it represents the revival of a dead stream that had been covered by roads through the power of citizens, and will serve as a milestone in harmoniously developing nature, history, and culture.

According to the city, it began the Suwon Stream covered section restoration project in 2009. The concrete structure covering an 780-meter length and 30 to 40-meter width between Jidong Bridge and Maegyo Bridge has been removed, and restoration to a naturalized stream was completed last month.

A total of 6 billion won was invested in this project, consisting of 1.8 billion won in national funds, 1.2 billion won in provincial funds, and 3 billion won in city funds.

Nine vehicle and pedestrian bridges were newly constructed in the restoration section, and one overflow bridge was built for times of flooding.

Walking paths were installed along the riverbank, connecting the 5.8-kilometer Suwon Stream riverside walking trail from Gwanggyo Reservoir to the Gyeongbu Railway Bridge in Seryui-dong, which had been blocked by the covered section.

The city explained that from an environmental perspective, the restoration allows the stream to breathe, improving water quality, securing urban wind corridors, and preventing the urban heat island effect.

From an economic perspective, as evidenced by recent rises in land prices around the restoration area, commercial facilities in the riverside industrial zone are undergoing use conversions, and resident access is increasing due to the attractive waterfront space, with expectations for revitalization of the region.

During the industrialization period of the 1970s and 1980s, Suwon Stream lost its function as a natural ecological stream and deteriorated into an eyesore in the city. As a result, the Suwon Stream covering project began in 1990.

The covering project was pursued with the goal of resolving traffic congestion in Suwon and revitalizing surrounding commercial areas. An 780-meter section directly downstream from Namsumun was covered and used as a road and parking lot.

However, beginning in 1995, one year before the 200th anniversary of Namsumun's completion, environmental issues emerged in some covered sections, leading to civic movements to stop the covering project.

The 'Suwon Stream Revival Civic Movement Headquarters' was established, and when the 'Movement Against Suwon Stream Covering and Calling for Namsumun Restoration' campaign intensified, public opinion rapidly shifted to opposition to covering. Eventually, in 1996, former Suwon Mayor Sim Jae-deok declared an abrupt withdrawal of the Suwon Stream covering project.

Yeom Tae-young, the current Suwon City Mayor, who has led civic environmental movements since 1994 and played a central role in Suwon Stream restoration, stated, "A new era of Suwon Stream is opening again," and evaluated the restoration, saying, "Suwon Stream restoration is not merely returning water to us. It is the restoration of life, history, and culture."

The Suwon Stream Restoration Festival commemorating the opening of the water channel will begin with a ceremony on the 21st and continue for two days through the 22nd, with Jidong Bridge Plaza as the main venue and events held throughout the Suwon Stream area.

In particular, on the 21st and 22nd, visitors can also experience the '6th Suwon Stream Tulip Festival' prepared by Gwonseon-gu in the Seryui-dong section of Suwon Stream in commemoration of the stream's restoration.