Seoul's night view wins international award

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The capital city of South Korea won the first prize for its night scenery at an annual international gathering on urban illumination, officials said Thursday.

Seoul was the winner of the "City, People, Lighting Award" presented at the
annual general meeting of the Lighting Urban Community International (LUCI) held
in San Luis Potosi, Spain, which opened its five-day run on Wednesday.
LUCI is an international network bringing together professionals using lighting
as a major tool for urban, social and economic development while giving attention
to sustainability and environmental issues.
The organization was established in 2002 in Lyon, France.
Seoul was recognized for its night scenery at the Cheonggye Stream, which runs
through the heart of the city.
The stream was paved over in the late 1950s and early 1960s as part of a
government initiative to create an industrial complex and traffic overpass in the
area.
The 5.8-kilometer stream was restored in 2005 by then Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak,
who is now the current South Korean president, as part of his efforts to restore
the city's original landscape.