Gwangju City Council Member Hong Giwol Proposes Restoration of Donggyecheon Covered Stream

Area Near Jeonnam Girls' High School Back Gate...
Call for Securing Funding

Hong Giwol, Gwangju City Council member.

There has been a proposal to restore part of Donggyecheon, an underground stream in Gwangju, and revitalize it as an urban tourism resource.

On the 7th, at the 331st 2nd plenary session's '5-minute speech,' Gwangju City Council member Hong Giwol (Democratic Party, Dong-gu 1, Special Committee on Budget and Accounts Chair) urged the expansion of urban tourism resources through the partial restoration of the Donggyecheon underground stream.

Hong pointed out, "Currently, there are 15 underground streams in Gwangju, and due to urban development, some or all of them have been covered and now flow beneath major arterial and branch roads. Some of these covered streams are being used as sewers, but most are disappearing from the memories of local residents."

He emphasized that restoring underground streams in the city center should be approached from multiple angles, including securing local cultural tourism resources, responding to climate change, creating waterfront spaces, and establishing a pleasant urban environment as a water-circulating city. In particular, he suggested that partially restoring Donggyecheon, a small underground stream in the area, would attract people and create a vibrant local space for interaction and communication.

Hong stated, "Donggyecheon originates from Jangwonbong and flows through downtown Gwangju before joining Gwangjucheon. If a section near Jeonnam Girls' High School is restored, the cultural tourism landscape of Gwangju will enter a new, future-oriented phase."

He continued, "The restored Donggyecheon area could become a major local tourism course, linked with the National Asia Culture Center, which attracts 3.2 million visitors annually, the Dongmyeong-dong cafe street, and busking performances at Gwangju Park. It should also be connected and expanded in conjunction with Gwangju's key initiative, the 'Daejabo City,' and the creation of a 'car-free Geumnam-ro.'"

Meanwhile, Hong proposed, "The scheduled separation of Donggyecheon in the 2035 Sewerage Maintenance Master Plan should be advanced, and a plan should be established to secure the quality of maintenance water so that visitors can enjoy light water activities. This should be done alongside securing a special sewerage account budget with a 25% national funding rate."