In 1992, Lee H.D. and Nho, S.D., professors at Yeonsei University in history and environmental sciences respectively, devised a redevelopment plan for the river. In 1998 Park, Gyeong Ri joined their team and started spreading their proposal.
At a press conference in 2002, Lee M.B., then a candidate for the city mayoral election, suggested the restoration of Cheonggyecheon as a major public pledge. Once elected mayor of Seoul, he took on fulfilling this proposal a key initiative of his mayoral campaign. Within a couple of months, the CRP Headquaters, Cheonggyecheon Restoration Corps, Cheonggyecheon Restoration Forum and the Citizens' committee were established. Along with several other members assigned by Lee, D.B. the above organizations took on the development and implemented the completion of the scheme.
In just twenty-seven months, the once neglected and almost drained Cheonggyecheon river was successfully resurrected as the beating heart of Seoul. The project was a resounding success as it became a balanced redevelopment area both introducing and restoring lost vegetation and animal species, as well as encouraging pedestrian circulation.
