For 600 years, the Cheonggyecheon stream was the structural foundation of Seoul, running through the heart of the city and bisecting its south and north meridian. Once a vital creek for daily life, it was covered in the 1950s–60s and replaced by the Cheonggye Elevated Expressway, a symbol of Korea’s modernization and industrial growth. The Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project (CRP) dismantled this expressway and restored a 6 km-long urban stream, marking Seoul’s transition from a vehicle-oriented city to a sustainable, people-centered metropolis. The project improved air quality, reduced urban temperatures by up to 3°C, revitalized downtown Seoul, and promoted balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk. Through participatory governance, conflict management, and environmentally friendly design, the CRP became a model for urban regeneration and a symbol of harmony between history, culture, and nature—earning global recognition, including the “Best Public Administration Award” at the Venice International Architecture Exhibition in 2004.