Harvard University to use book on Cheonggyecheon in urban design class

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Harvard University, a top U.S. school, has decided to adopt a book on a restored stream in Seoul for a lecture course on environment and city, officials here said Wednesday.
The Harvard University Graduate School of Design has long paid keen attention to the landmark project to restore Cheonggyecheon, a 8.4-kilometer stream running through downtown Seoul that was covered with asphalt for decades amid South Korea's rapid industrialization.
"The Harvard University Graduate School of Design published a book on Cheonggyecheon last year and it recently decided to use it for a class," an official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.
The US$900 million project, launched in 2003 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government when Lee Myung-bak, currently South Korea's president, served as mayor, initially drew heavy public criticism for the possibility of damage to the environment and cultural assets. But Cheonggyecheon has since become a popular recreation spot for citizens. The project's success drove up Lee's popularity, helping him win the presidential election in 2007.