Gulpocheon Reopened After 30 Years... Bupyeong District to Fully Promote Phase 2 of Ecological Stream Restoration

The Gulpocheon in Incheon, which had been covered in concrete, has revealed its appearance after about 30 years, and the Bupyeong District of Incheon City is reorganising the management system for the ecological stream restoration project and is set to actively promote the second phase of restoration.

Bupyeong District announced on the 31st that starting next month, it will conduct post-monitoring services for the Phase 1 restoration section of Gulpocheon along with a conceptual service for Phase 2 restoration.

The post-monitoring service will investigate changes in water quality and aquatic ecosystems after the ecological stream restoration to evaluate the achievement of goals, and plans to analyse the effects of the project, including changes in the river environment and resident satisfaction.

Additionally, the section from the Bupyeong 1-dong Administrative Welfare Centre to Baegun Twin Caves, which is under review for the second phase of restoration, will be examined for project direction and feasibility. This section is currently covered by a road, but if restoration is carried out, the river that flowed beneath the asphalt could be revealed above ground again.

Bupyeong District will also concurrently promote the establishment of a comprehensive plan for the maintenance of the Gulpocheon small river. Through this, a comprehensive river management plan will be prepared, including flood level estimation and disaster response measures.

Gulpocheon was covered during the urbanisation process in the 1990s and lost its original appearance, but it has transformed into an ecological stream through Incheon's first river restoration project. The Phase 1 section, which was completed last month, stretches about 1.5 km from the Bupyeong 1-dong Administrative Welfare Centre to Bupyeong District Office, and has been developed into a water-friendly space with walking paths and rest areas.

Bupyeong District had originally planned to restore Gulpocheon in phases, and with the completion of Phase 1, it has begun the conceptualisation of Phase 2 restoration. The conceptual service for Phase 2 is scheduled to be commissioned in February and is expected to commence around April, lasting for about a year.

A Bupyeong District official stated, "We plan to systematically promote three integrated services related to the Gulpocheon ecological stream to establish a systematic management foundation and accelerate additional restoration projects."