Time to recover what was lost

I had the opportunity to visit Seoul, Korea in January last year, and Boston, USA in July this year. It had been more than 20 years since I last visited Seoul, and I was impressed by how the city has become much cleaner than before, with improved urban infrastructure since the Olympics. What caught my attention during this visit was the restoration of Cheonggyecheon Stream. Cheonggyecheon Stream originally flowed through the center of Seoul, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty, and was a geographical symbol separating politics, society, and culture. However, in order to contain the environmental deterioration caused by repeated flooding and wastewater and garbage due to population concentration, the stream was completely covered by the 1970s and roads and elevated roads were built. However, the covering caused problems such as the loss of cultural heritage, the deterioration of the urban landscape, and the progression of slums in the surrounding area due to concrete corrosion caused by sewage. In 2002, the current mayor of Seoul, Lee Myung-bak, was elected mayor on a platform of restoring Cheonggyecheon Stream to solve these problems, and the construction was completed last fall, with the aim of restoring the history and culture of the ancient capital and creating an environmentally friendly city centered on people and nature. The total construction cost is said to be approximately 47 billion yen.

Meanwhile, it had been about five years since my last visit to Boston. As always, it is a city with a sense of the calm passage of time, with its abundant nature and streets lined with historical architecture. One of my goals was to see the so-called BIG DIG. This project took the elevated expressway that runs through the center of the city underground, turning it into parks and green spaces, and integrating the previously divided bay area and central city. A quarter century after it was first planned, it is nearing completion, and the beautiful scenery and functions of this historic city have been restored. The total construction cost is said to be about 1.66 trillion yen.

The expressways and elevated railways that expanded rapidly during the high economic growth period are necessary infrastructure for urban functions, improved urban efficiency, and gave us material wealth and a new urban culture. However, in the process, the natural and historical environment was destroyed, and much was lost and sacrificed. As in these overseas cases, regaining what was once lost is more difficult than building something new, but compared to the enormous burden poured in after the collapse of the bubble economy, isn't this a wise use of money? Making use of the potential of the land, such as beautiful scenery and historical heritage, and the culture that was nurtured there, will also preserve our own identity as people living in the present age. Isn't it our responsibility, as those who have enjoyed material wealth, to restore, even if only a little, an environment in which future generations can live spiritually fulfilling lives?