Seoul to Deploy Monitors, Pursue Fines After Public Decorum Violations at Cheonggyecheon

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced today (July 30) that it will deploy monitoring personnel and establish institutional frameworks to impose fines following a series of public order violations at Cheonggyecheon Stream, such as unauthorized collection of coins thrown by visitors and bathing in the water.

The city has permanently stationed one patrol personnel at Palseokdam of Cheonggyecheon Stream, where the unauthorized coin collection took place, and around Gosanja Bridge, where the so-called "waterside bathing" occurred, to step up surveillance.

Separately, the Seoul Facilities Corporation has deployed 40 facility safety personnel to conduct rotational patrols along the entire 8.12-kilometer section of Cheonggyecheon Stream.

In addition, the city has additionally installed banners and guideboards at six locations to notify visitors of prohibited activities such as entering the water, bathing, smoking, and drinking, thereby strengthening guidance for users.

The city also plans to overhaul laws and ordinances to upgrade the current guidance-centered management system into one that connects prevention, on-site deterrence, and post-event sanctions.

If sanctions are difficult to enforce under current regulations alone, the city plans to revise ordinances to specify prohibited acts and disposition criteria, while establishing practical grounds for sanctions such as the imposition of fines.

Furthermore, starting next month, the city will promote a "Campaign for Creating a Mature Cheonggyecheon Use Culture" to raise awareness of prohibited activities and publicize usage rules.

Considering the large number of foreign tourist visitors, the city will notify travel agencies and the tourism industry about precautions for using Cheonggyecheon Stream and promote multilingual publicity.

Recently, social media (SNS) sparked public outrage after a video was posted showing middle-aged men and women entering the water to collect coins thrown by visitors making wishes.

Another video showed a middle-aged woman washing her body with bathing supplies laid out by the Cheonggyecheon waterfront, drawing criticism.

Jung Seong-guk, head of the Water Cycle Safety Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "As Cheonggyecheon is a representative resting space in Seoul used together by citizens and domestic and foreign tourists alike, the majority of visitors should not suffer inconvenience due to illegal and nuisance acts by a few." He added, "Following the deployment of dedicated personnel to problem-prone areas, we will promptly establish effective sanction grounds such as fines to protect a pleasant and safe environment for using Cheonggyecheon Stream."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.