[SeoulNOW] Seodaemun-gu's Idea, the Butterfly Effect of a Virtuous Cycle

Hongjecheon's 'Hongje Waterfall,' once just a walking path,
Now a tourist attraction with added sentiment and content
Scholarships for local students funded by profits
'Banjiha Safety Management Service' also smart administration

Seodaemun-gu created wooden decks and installed comfortable seating so that visitors can enjoy 'Hongje Waterfall' from different angles on each floor. Provided by Seodaemun-gu Office.

‘Hongje Waterfall’ is an artificial waterfall located on Hongjecheon Stream in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. It stands 25 meters tall and 60 meters wide, operating for 15 hours a day in spring, summer, and fall, and 10 hours a day in winter, providing a refreshing water spectacle. In winter, the waterfall sometimes freezes, creating an ice wall that offers a magnificent view.

Seoul City invested a large sum of money in 2011 to create this artificial waterfall as part of the Hongjecheon restoration project. The waterfall harmonizes well with the surrounding mountain landscape, creating an impressive scene. A resting area called Waterfall Plaza was established along the Hongjecheon Stream, where visitors could relax and enjoy the view from the plaza and the upper deck. However, it was not a place that attracted many visitors from neighboring areas or tourists. It was merely a ‘local landmark’ used for walking or exercising.

In the past 1 to 2 years, this place has transformed into a ‘hot place’ visited by foreign tourists. The turning point began when this midstream section of Hongjecheon was selected as a pilot area for the ‘Seoul-style Waterfront Sensibility City’ project. An open-air caf? was created on the site of a parking lot and warehouse in front of the artificial waterfall. Facilities such as a waste collection site and snow removal base under the Inner Circular Road bridge were demolished to make way for an outdoor stage and a public parking lot that also serves as a plaza. Wide wooden decks were installed in tiers along the upper space of Hongjecheon Stream. Dozens of chairs and stands were placed so visitors could enjoy views of Hongje Waterfall, Hongjecheon Stream, and Ansan Mountain from different levels.

The ‘Cafe Waterfall,’ which offers views of the waterfall, is operated directly by the district office. This was the will of Seodaemun-gu Mayor Lee Seongheon. Since it is not a private business, visitors can bring outside food and drinks anywhere in the open-air caf? and indoor space without inconvenience. This helped avoid conflicts and competition with nearby merchants. To prevent harm to private stores, beverage prices were not lowered. As business prospered, jobs were also created.

Last winter scene of 'Cafe Waterfall' at Hongjecheon, Seodaemun-gu, featuring a large tent, a transparent igloo, and a Christmas tree. The 'Hongje Waterfall' can be seen on the left side of the photo. Provided by Seodaemun-gu Office.

Since its opening in April last year, the number of visitors, which was about 10,000 per month initially, doubled repeatedly within a few months. Over the past year, sales equivalent to 200,000 cups of coffee were achieved, and the profits were used to establish an annual scholarship fund worth around 200 million won, creating a virtuous cycle of a butterfly effect. The scholarship was awarded for the first time earlier this month, and among the 20 beneficiary university students, six were ‘Seodaemun Search Teachers’ who teach math online to first-year middle school students in the district. They help local juniors by providing math lecture videos. Among the instructors are students from less affluent backgrounds as well as education college students who volunteer as mentors for middle school students.

The artificial waterfall has been in place for 13 years. Although it is the same space and material, the combination of delicate ideas and content has produced remarkable results.

The ‘Smart Safety Management Service for Semi-basement Households’ is another example of innovation from a different perspective. After a tragic incident two years ago in which a family perished due to flooding in a semi-basement home during summer, local governments nationwide rushed to devise countermeasures. Seodaemun-gu introduced an ‘Internet of Things (IoT) sensor-based smart safety management service’ that applies smart sensor home network technology to simultaneously prepare for flooding, fire, and carbon monoxide leaks.

In November last year, the service was installed in 300 households, and an additional 42 households were registered earlier this year. Eight types of equipment, including four sensors, are attached inside the semi-basement homes on walls and ceilings. When danger is detected and sensors sound an alarm, the district office control center and the registered family members of the semi-basement households are notified of the disaster situation. Over the past six months, nine fire and flood incidents were prevented from escalating further. It is a victory of smart administration.