In the quiet chill of late autumn, the reeds and silver grass lining the riverbanks sway in the breeze, while a blanket of leaves rustles on the soft ground. Suddenly, the thunderous cry of a white heron breaks the silence.
This isn’t near any of the well-known habitats for migratory birds, like the Suncheonman or Cheonsuman bays, or the Geumgang Estuary. This is, in fact, in central Seoul, along the Yangjaecheon Stream in southern Gangnam-gu District, and this kind of avian scenery is easy to come by during an afternoon stroll along the stream.
The Yangjaecheon Stream originates at Gwanaksan Mountain, and flows eastward through Seocho-gu and Gangnam-gu districts, before flowing into the Tancheon Stream. This body of water, which did once flow directly into the Hangang River, was transformed by urban planning in the 1970s from a meandering brook into a straight-flowing stream.
Starting in 1995, the Yangjaecheon Stream and its desolate riverbanks underwent a process of natural restoration, the first time for this to be done in Korea. This year marks 20 years since the stream was given time to repair itself, to regain its bends and natural habitats. True to its old name Haktan (학탄), meaning “River of Cranes,” it’s now easy to spot white herons flying over the Yangjaecheon riverbanks.
Joseon cartographer and geologist Kim Jeong-ho (1804-1866) aptly named Yangjaecheon’s upper stream the Gongsucheon Stream (공수천) and the lower stream the Haktan in his Daedongyeojido (대동여지도, 大東輿地圖), a large-scale map of Korea completed in 1861.
White herons are not the sole inhabitants of this riverbed. The 3.7-kilometer stretch in the neighborhood of Gangnam is home to over 40 species of birds, such as kestrels and mallards, as well as 300 different types of amphibians, reptiles, fish and mammals. Moreover, the riverbanks breathe life into Seoul’s concrete jungle, providing an escape into the refreshing colors of nature’s playground every season.
By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han, Korea.net Photographer
hanjeon@korea.kr