[Inside Chodong] Han River Transformation Must Avoid Repeating Sebitseom's Decade-Long Mistakes

This is truly an 'all-in on the Han River' approach. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s expanded version of the 'Han River Renaissance' project, which he initiated during his first term, has shifted the focus of Seoul’s administration firmly onto the Han River. The plan is not merely to treat the Han River as a tourist spot but to leverage it as an economic foundation to elevate Seoul into one of the world’s top five cities. Just last weekend, Mayor Oh personally immersed himself in the Han River, saying, "The water was unbelievably clean."

Many interpret this as a form of 'landmark politics' by the Seoul mayor, drawing parallels to former President Lee Myung-bak’s restoration of Cheonggyecheon during his tenure as Seoul mayor. For Lee, the success of the Cheonggyecheon restoration was pivotal in his rise to the presidency. Similarly, Mayor Oh has focused on 'activating the Han River' since his previous term. Returning for his eighth term, he announced last year the 'Great Han River' initiative and this year the 'Comprehensive Plan for Activating Han River Water Activities,' expanding the maintenance and development plans that had been centered around the Han River banks for years.

Considering the characteristic of 'landmark politics' where larger scale projects yield greater impact, this is undoubtedly an excellent choice. However, the rationale behind the approach is relatively straightforward compared to the hundreds of billions of won invested. A senior Seoul city official recently remarked, "We cannot keep encouraging people to visit the Han River just for chicken and beer and tents," reflecting a desire to broaden citizens’ ways of engaging with the Han River, securing economic benefits to pass on to future generations.

According to Mayor Oh’s plan, in about five years, floating hotels will be on the Han River with gondolas moving above them. Marina facilities will be established along various parts of the riverbank, allowing river buses to operate, and people will enjoy diverse waterfront amenities such as food zones and windsurfing. The first pedestrian bridge over the Han River will also be created. Nodeul Island will be reborn under the hands of a world-renowned architect who designed Google’s new headquarters in the United States. This is the so-called 'Great Han River Transformation.'

Follow-up actions are also swift. Ahead of the official launch of the river bus in October, internal discussions are underway to inspect the shipbuilding progress on-site. The unusable water taxi docks have begun to be dismantled, and contracts have been signed with architectural firms to establish the basic plan for the Han River gondola, which had been on hold.

However, concerns about the simultaneous execution of multiple projects cannot be overlooked. Seoul citizens have already experienced major shifts in city administration from Oh Se-hoon to Park Won-soon and back to Oh Se-hoon. Even projects like Sebitseom and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) faced criticism for overusing public funds and reckless development for over a decade. Only after Mayor Oh’s return did Sebitseom turn profitable, and DDP became a representative Seoul landmark and fashion hub.

Considering that Mayor Oh has only two years left in office, the fate of the ongoing 'Great Han River Transformation' projects may depend on who succeeds him. Given the hundreds of billions of won budget and multi-year project timelines, some initiatives may disappear midway. The Seoul city government’s plan to attract full private investment for the giant Ferris wheel and Twin Eye projects is already embroiled in controversy over indirect public fund involvement, which was foreseeable.

Therefore, it is imperative to establish a more concrete roadmap for sustainable development starting now. Former Mayor Park declared a shift in Seoul’s urban planning from 'development and maintenance' to 'people-centered urban regeneration,' even codifying it as a 'charter,' but Seoul today has changed once again.

To avoid the sacrifice of 'erasing predecessors’ traces' every time the mayor changes, the core principle that 'the Han River is an asset to be utilized, not neglected, for Seoul’s future' must be clearly communicated to citizens. Timely implementation of annual project plans is necessary, but active defense against controversies arising from each project is also required. If the current narrow gaps are not sealed, the Han River could become the site of a second or third Sebitseom. For the new 100 years of the Han River, what matters is not speed but principles and direction. / Social Affairs Department Deputy Chief Reporter Bae Kyung-hwan