The urban stream and urban Eco-regeneration: A case study of the Eco-regeneration project of Chunggaechon in Seoul.

摘要

Now that the sustainable development agenda has been firmly established within contemporary urban policy, urban Eco-regeneration projects are being started which incorporate ecological sustainability with economic regeneration. Examples include freeways that are destroyed and replaced with urban green spaces and deserted urban rivers that are redeveloped into urban amenities. Cities undertaking such projects are often considered—and consider themselves—at the leading edge of urban regeneration and politics. However, the politico-economic context of this agenda is controversial and seemingly paradoxical. It is unclear to what extent the emergent socio-natural relationships and networks in restored ecosystems will achieve the level of ecological and economic sustainability for which they were designed. This thesis examines some issues, dilemmas, problems, and opportunities that appear during and after Eco-regeneration projects using the Chunggaechon restoration project in Seoul as a case study.;This is one of the first detailed and critical studies of a major Eco-regeneration project in relation to its performance in terms of politico-economic effects, urban ecological sustainability, democratic decision making, and socio-economic equity. By identifying the politico-economic dimensions of the case, this research assesses the positive and negative contributions of the project in restoring an urban ecological system, citizen participation, and equity. It also explains how a specific urban Eco-regeneration project evolves through all phases and after completion. It points out that the effects on the spatial economy around the restored stream closely follow the pattern of traditional urban redevelopment, with benefits primarily going to landowners, developers, and economic elites. The restoration project in Seoul also ignored ecological viability and sustainability standards in light of current conditions. Ironically, the ecological goal of the project—to restore the stream to its `natural condition' with full water flow—never existed historically. The project goals were to provide amenities for citizens of Seoul, eliminate physical risks, and increase maintenance costs. In terms of democratic, representative processes and socio-economic equity, the project largely followed the traditional pattern of urban redevelopment: marginalized stakeholders negatively affected by the project were excluded and received no new benefits. Relatively sophisticated manipulation and negotiations were performed to assuage the various merchants and vendors in the area.;Finally, despite the marvelous combination of growth and preservation, this thesis concludes that it remains controversial to what extent the Eco-regeneration project in Seoul actually realized its primary goal and rhetoric of returning the economy and environment to harmony. It is also unclear to what extent it contributed to environmental sustainability, democratic participation, and social justice. Rather, Eco-regeneration in Seoul seems to reflect the diversifying tension and competition among the value of economy, environment, history, and society inside the rationale of urban development. Based on the case study, this research argues that Eco-regeneration results in a perpetuation of the environmental crisis, reduced historic restoration, infringed upon economic equity and participation, and economic and physical refurbishment.