Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, expressed his happiness on May 15 while walking along Cheonggyecheon with former President Lee Myung-bak, whom he referred to as his "mentor in my heart."
The two walked along Cheonggyecheon from Cheonggye Plaza to Gwangtonggyo Bridge, sharing their thoughts during the stroll.
While walking, Lee stated, "This is no longer just our Seoul; it is a Seoul for the world," emphasizing the need to create works that reflect this global identity. Oh responded, "You have built this hardware very well, and I will ensure that the software enhances its visibility."
After their meeting, Oh spoke to reporters, recalling that he had celebrated the 20th anniversary of Cheonggyecheon’s completion at the same location with Lee last autumn. He noted that there had been much praise for Lee's contributions in adding rich cultural content to the infrastructure, helping to elevate Seoul to a world-class city.
Oh added that Lee is pleased that Cheonggyecheon has become a beloved space for Seoul citizens. He quoted Lee as saying that the transformation of urban space and design initiated by Cheonggyecheon should continue, aiming to create a space that is admired by foreigners and meets global standards.
Oh concluded by stating, "I will keep those words in mind and aim to upgrade Cheonggyecheon into a space where the quality of life for Seoul citizens is felt and can be benchmarked by foreigners." He remarked that the insights gained from the Cheonggyecheon project have been pivotal in the transformative changes seen in Seoul, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to walk with his mentor, Lee Myung-bak, along Cheonggyecheon.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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