The Gulpocheon Stream in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, once known as "Incheon's Cheonggyecheon," is set to be fully unveiled to the public, marking a major urban revitalization milestone. After 35 years of being covered by concrete and utilized as a parking lot, the stream has been reborn as an ecological waterway. The first phase of the restoration project, spanning 1.2 kilometers from Bupyeong 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center to Bupyeong-gu Office, is slated for completion on December 18.
The Gulpocheon, which originates in Bupyeong, was covered in the 1990s due to rapid urban expansion and industrialization. The Bupyeong-gu district initiated the $84.5$ billion won restoration project in June 2021 to provide residents with a much-needed green space for leisure and relaxation. The project involved removing the thick concrete covering to create a vibrant ecological stream within the city center.
The revitalized area features various public amenities designed to integrate nature and community life. These include stepping stones, an urban forest, a habitat for wildlife, an observation terrace, and waterside resting areas. A notable addition is the 287-meter-long, 3.5-meter-wide Gulpo Skyway (굴포하늘길), an aerial walkway near the Bupyeong-gu Office. Positioned 10 meters above the stream, it offers panoramic views and connects to the Innovation Center. Furthermore, a section from the Bupyeong-gu Office to Samsan 4-gyo will be illuminated at night with laser lights, creating the stunning Milky Way Path (은하수길).
The Bupyeong-gu district is already planning the second phase of the restoration, which will extend the project by another 1.4 kilometers from the Bupyeong 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center to Baekun Ssang-gul near Baekun Station.
To maximize the stream's potential, the district is simultaneously constructing the Innovation Center, a key urban regeneration hub, in partnership with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH). This $127$ billion won project will feature public rental housing, commercial spaces, a food platform, and a public parking lot by 2027, fostering a center for residential living, startups, and childcare.
While residents like Yoo Young-soo (76), who has lived in the area for 40 years, praise the project for transforming the formerly poor neighborhood into a clean and beautiful space, local merchants, such as Seo Heon-yeong (65), emphasize the necessity of securing diverse content and parking facilities to attract tourists. Otherwise, they caution, the restored stream might remain merely a local walking trail.
Bupyeong-gu Mayor Cha Jun-taek expressed optimism, stating that the Gulpocheon's transformation into an ecological stream marks a new turning point for the old Bupyeong district. He affirmed the commitment to ensuring Gulpocheon becomes a new landmark, contributing to the local economy and serving as a comfortable resting place for residents.
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