How much do you know about Cheonggyecheon stream(청계천) in the heart of Seoul? you can see it as much as you know!

Seoul is a quite complex and bustling city even for Koreans. Nevertheless, this city, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty for over the past 600 years, must be giant treasure box of oriental culture of Korea. It is our great pleasure to have such a wonderful culture near our everyday life. As located in the heart of Seoul, Cheonggyecheon stream allows many people to relax and have good memories. It is a fascinating place that is loved not only by foreigners visiting Korea but also by Koreans, with its bridges built by ancestors and various structures created in modern times in company with the nature.

Cheonggyecheon(청계천) is well known as a representative attraction to Koreans and foreigners must to visit. Even if it is so, if you don't know about its' real value in the historical meaning, you could miss the some points of appreciation. You may be considered this is just as a natural oasis in the urban that simply let you feel nature in the city, but there is more than that. When seeing for a brief description of this stream, it was formed with main palaces ,major governmental organs and residential area for the upscale in the north of this stream, and in the south of it the common people lived mainly. There were several bridges along this stream and markets for trading various types of goods along the stream was formed. As a fact it could be mention that it was a kind of boundary zone between the rich and ordinary people during the 500 years of Joseon dynasty. With the fall of the dynasty and the process of modern society, for a considerable period of time, this was covered with concrete 10KM in length from the east and to the west of Seoul, and the overpasses were installed there since 1950s, and streets dealing with various items were established.

The new business hub street beside stream

  Following the industrialization after Korean War, this zone was typical congested area like parking lot till night as well as very complicated area last 50 years. It's been only a little since it has been restored to its present status after many controversies and returned again on October 2005 to the bosom of citizen. Thanks to effort of environmental restoration, people could have a green resting oasis. The old buildings on both sides of the stream were cleaned up and born again ad new buildings were added along the stream. It results in the value of real estate has increased by the creation of a new business hub mainly dealing with international finance and cutting-edge information. Now, this place with the cutting edge, past and nature ha become one of the famous attractive spots.

Make a wish in here so called ‘Trevi Fountain’ in the style of Korea.

People usually begin with a walk from Cheonggye Square. Walk down the stairs in the square and you can see people throwing coins into a small space(Wishing Well) in the middle of the stream. Wishing Well is commonly known as the nickname "Trevi Fountain in Korea" will take you back to Seoul again in the future. Don't hesitate to add your warm heart and make a nice memory by throwing the coin. The coin will be given as a donation to the poor youth. The first bridge that meets from the square was a market sold mostly fresh fruits and vegetables in the past dynasty. In the old days when there was no public place to deserve, this place did a big role as an important living cultural space for the common people. It was not a mean merely of them over a stream, but a part of daily life to rest, to meet, and to gather up. 

The Gwangtong Bridge with beautiful relief

Among them, Gwangtong Bridge(광통교) is the most beautiful and beloved one by the people, various events were held in here during the traditional premier holiday in old days, and it is a popular place as a romantic meeting backdrop for loving youth in historical drama. If you look carefully at the stone pillars and the beautiful oriental relief stone walls on both sides, you can easily find the part lying upside down. The stone walls here were originally part of the tomb of second queen of the first king who founded the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). In fact, she contributed a lot to the establishment of the Joseon Dynansty. The second queen tried to raise her son to the throne. With this reason, the two, the second queen and King Taejong who is a son of the first wife of the first king. didn't get along well, eventually her son died by him and he became the third king. The beautifully carved stone plates were moved here to build the walls and let it to be intentionally placed upside down in the process of building bridge to give that queen insult by the third King Taejong. Whatever his intentions may have been, the bridge seems to be loved more for these beautiful reliefs anyway.

The horse carrying King Jeongjo. In accordance with conventions, the King is not actually depicted in the painting but has been left blank.

And another attractive spot you can come across when you walk along the stream is the replica of the king Jeongjo's parade on over 5,000 tiles. King Jeongjo, who made various attempts to reform and improve the nation and one of the most successful and visionary rulers of the Joseon Dynasty in the culture and economy, let public artists drew pictures about the great eight-day parade to visit his father's tomb with his mother at 60-year-old mother's birthday. The social atmosphere at that time could be seen well even in paintings in which the expressions of humorous facial look and leisurely procession are well portrayed. Speaking briefly about his tragic royal family history, his father in the position of the crown prince until he died was a victim of political strife and was fit to die of starvation in the rice chest by his father. After his father died on his grandfather's order, he was adopted by his grandfather as a son. After growing up to become a king, he went to the tomb of his father to serve his mother. It furnishes a good theme for many historical dramas and movies till now. 

Exhibition zone 

The Cheonggyecheon stream is a place that has been loved by all citizens for the past, now and will be in future. It is a cultural space that can enjoy many Busking and various performances on weekends especially. When I visited on weekend, the soap bubble show lasted about 30 minutes, but the time passed so quickly with funny jokes and great shows. His popularity was especially great for children. A cup of coffee in the cafe next to the stream was another pleasure for me. Take a moment to spare. Recommend to go back at the appropriate point and give your legs time to rest because it’s a long path to walk to the last. 
This lady who was playing instrument and singing clearly showed me 'what is the amateur'. She made me laugh by some of mistakes. It doesn't matter how great her playing skills is. The most important thing might be how each one lives happily.

Travel attractions not to miss in Korea in March,The Gwangyang Maehwa Flower Festival(광양 매화축제)

Ah! I have been hungry for spring. I'm waiting for the spring scent. After passing long and tedious winter, it doesn't not allow for me to stay inside and push me the south area to meet blooming Spring. Plum is a flower that conveys the first spring news after passing through cold winter in Korea. It is a flower that has been loved by Koreans for a long time because it is a regular material of literature in the past. These days, it has received a lot of love in a very good natural fermented foods.

I went out early in the morning to go to the plum village. The plum blossom festival of HongSsangRi Farm (홍쌍리 청매실농원) is held each year on March,duration 8th Mar~17th Mar 2019, in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province which is in the southern end and can be  reached from Seoul for three and a half hours by bus. It was a long time of 3 hours and 30 minutes, but I felt the spring feeling when I looked out of the window with excitement. Even so, I managed to get forty winks  for a while, so I felt like it was not hard for me to ride the bus. The parking lot was packed with lots of cars and tour buses from nationwide. There was already in festive mood with each tent sold various local foods as well as with flocked Springtime picnickers of March who are longing for Spring. I have heard that plum blossom grows in popular in the country of South Korea, China, Japan located in East Asia.

PLUM BLOSSOM

It is expressed come along with the modifier called 'plum in snow ' because the tree flowers in between late winter and early spring and sometimes it covered with late snow. It has been cultivated from long ago as an ornamental tree in the garden of the upper class and expressed in many literary works and works of art with pure, bright and deep floral scents, as a symbol of expressing elegance, purity, innocence, longing and hope metaphorically in Korea. 

Plum Blossom and Birds

My heart was felt calmness and warmness by softly light beige-colored sands and my nose was tickled gentle breeze of the Seomjin river when I stood on the sightseeing deck and looked away down the lower side. So, looking at the river and its soft colored sand, I recognized why the river appeared in so many literary works.  The old tiled houses and the thatched house built in many places within the farm add to the feeling of plum blossom village. It seemed like a white snow field.

Earthenware pots are fermenting the fruit of plum

 The fruits harvested around the beginning of June have so strong sour taste that it is not easy for us to eat right away as the type of fruit. After process of the fermentation usually, they are eaten in the form of alcohol, tea, concentrate, pickled dishes. Thanks to the trends of wellness, explosive popularity rose for last few decades. This is a necessity for each household. Most families in Korea use the fruit of this plum in June to ferment and make plum concentrate. In particular, there is no natural food that exceeds the digestibility of this concentrate.

I know that the plum village here is used as a venue for TV dramas. Especially, the scene of the moonlit night in which the plum blossom was full was so beautiful. I thought the reason is quite understandable. I could not deny that it is the best place for romantic atmosphere. Springtime in Korea is not so long. Please hurry before the spring is over. Come on!