Suwon Through a Microscope (138) The Story Behind Seoho Overpass (Former Suwon City Council Chairman Song Jae-gyu)

On January 26 this year, Starfield Suwon opened, creating quite a buzz in the Suwon area. Daily news reports described record crowds at Starfield and the strain on residents.

On April 30, I proposed a walk to Kim Woo-young, editorial director of Suwon Ilbo. He readily agreed. Before visiting Starfield, we decided to visit Seoho. Starting from Paldal-gu Office, we traveled via Haenggung Square and Hwaryeong-jeon, passed through Hwaseo Gate, crossed Yeongbok Girls' Middle School, proceeded through Suseong-ro, passed the road in front of Starfield, crossed Seoho Overpass, and entered Seoho Park. Crossing the overpass brought back memories.

Seoho Overpass is a masterpiece created through the dedication and passion of City Councilman Song Jae-gyu, representing Hwaseo 1-dong. As the only passage from the eastern region of Seoho to Seoho Park, the overpass provides considerable benefits to residents of Hwaseo-dong and Godeung-dong.

Jo Cheol-hyung, a resident of Hyundai Apartments in Hwaseo-dong, said: "Without Seoho Overpass, the well-developed Seoho Park would have been pie in the sky. With the overpass, I can take daily walks at Seoho and enjoy a happy retirement. Since the overpass was built, apartment prices have risen significantly," praising the overpass.

The birth of Seoho Overpass began after Shim Jae-deok took office as director of the Suwon Culture Center. He launched a campaign titled 'Return Seoho to Suwon Citizens.'

Seoho, known as Chukman Dam, was a water management facility created by King Jeongjo after constructing Hwaseong Fortress to promote agriculture and achieve a self-sufficient city. Jeongjo constructed Manseok Reservoir and Daeyudun in parallel with Hwaseong construction with great results. He subsequently built Mannyeon Dam in front of Hyungnyung Royal Tomb, then instructed Hwaseong Governor Seo Yu-rin to construct a reservoir and military farm on the western side of Hwaseong. This led to the creation of Chukman Dam and Seodun.

Suwon's Manseok Reservoir, Mannyeon Dam, and Chukman Dam represent major irrigation facilities of the Joseon Dynasty. Seoho was famous as 'Seoho Sunset,' one of the Eight Scenic Views of Suwon, and was selected as the third most scenic location among 143 famous sites in Joseon in the 'Record of Joseon's Famous Scenic Sites' created during Japanese rule.

Chukman Dam and Seodun, agricultural infrastructure created by Jeongjo to promote farming, became the catalyst for establishing an agricultural experiment station in Suwon during the Korean Empire period. Subsequently, the agricultural school developed into Seoul National University of Agriculture, and the experiment station evolved into the Rural Development Administration, making Suwon an agricultural research city.

Chukman Dam and the old pine trees along its dike, used for agricultural irrigation, became, along with Yeogi Mountain, recreational areas for Suwon citizens and dating spots for couples.

I also have many memories of Seoho. From October 1973, during my third year at Suwon Technical High School, I began internships at the Rural Development Administration's Agricultural Technology Research Institute (now National Institute of Agricultural Sciences) until July 1976 before military service, spending over three years with Seoho, leaving me with tender memories.

The 1967 relocation of Gyeonggi Province government office to Suwon brought rapid population growth. Urban development accelerated, and as many people settled in the upstream region of Seoho (Chukman Dam), Seoho's pollution became unavoidable. At the time, South Korea's economic conditions prevented attention to wastewater treatment.

The Rural Development Administration, Seoho's management agency, concluded that restricting citizen access could reduce pollution, so they installed fences around Seoho and blocked public entry. This caused Seoho to fade from public attention, worsening pollution.

After taking office in 1987, Suwon Culture Center Director Shim Jae-deok launched campaigns to revitalize Suwon Stream, Suwon's symbol, and return Seoho to Suwon citizens. In 1988, he published an article in the October issue of 'Love Suwon' highlighting Seoho's transformation into a dead lake, drawing public attention.

Empowered by this, Seodun-dong residents formally raised the issue of opening Seoho with the Rural Development Administration, but the agency did not respond. Subsequently, the Suwon Culture Center and residents of Seodun-dong and Hwaseo-dong surrounding Seoho vigorously pursued an opening campaign.

At this time, Song Jae-gyu, then advisor to Hwaseo 1-dong, also participated in efforts to revive and open Seoho.

The emergence of local government became a turning point for the Seoho opening movement. City Councilman Song Jae-gyu, elected from Hwaseo 1-dong, questioned conservation measures for natural scenic resources connecting Paldal Mountain, Sukji Mountain, and Yeogi Mountain at the 'Fourth City Council Suwon City Council (Special Session) Session 100' on September 17, 1991.

"With such high-rise apartments now being built on the slopes of Sukji Mountain, the mountain is being overshadowed. The apartments appear taller than the mountain peaks, making Sukji Mountain look oppressed and our hearts troubled as well. Do you have plans to establish and implement measures to protect and preserve the natural landscape connecting Paldal Mountain, Sukji Mountain, Seoho, and Yeogi Mountain?" he asked.

He also recommended to Suwon City that Seoho be protected from pollution and opened to the public.

"Do you have plans to open Seoho to Suwon citizens? Much change is anticipated around Seoho, particularly due to Hwaseo residential development projects. In preparation for resulting Seoho pollution and through citywide civic efforts to revive the dying Seoho, I recommend opening Seoho, Suwon's symbol, to citizens to foster civic sentiment, develop the surrounding area as recreational space, and create a beautiful Suwon that citizens can cherish and take pride in."

As the Rural Development Administration remained unmoved by these efforts, Suwon Culture Center Director Shim Jae-deok published an article in Gyeongin Ilbo on July 9, 1992, highlighting Seoho's problems.

He raised questions about whether Hamui Pavilion is being properly preserved, whether Seoho's water surface resembles its former state, whether the previous two matters were carried out legally, why Seoho's Chukman Bridge was distorted in its original form and enlarged with concrete, and whether there is will to revive Seoho.

Seven years of Seoho revival and opening campaigns progressed vigorously in 1995 when Shim Jae-deok was elected Suwon mayor in the first civil-elected mayoral election. Among these, Seoho issues were resolved through consultation with the Rural Development Administration to dredge polluted sediment from Seoho and open it to the public. Commemorating this, the 'World Kite Festival' was held in 1996 at the Rural Development Administration athletic field as a 200th anniversary Hwaseong construction project.

Although Seoho was opened, residents of Hwaseo 1-dong found it distant. The 50-meter-wide Gyeongbu Railway ran along Seoho, and the 40-meter-wide Deokryeong-daero was built along the railway line.

From this point, City Councilman Song Jae-gyu argued that an overpass crossing the Gyeongbu Railway and Deokryeong-daero should be built.

However, Suwon City's Roads Division said, "This is a road for park use, so it's a matter for the Green Space and Parks Division," while the Parks Division countered, "Deokryeong-daero construction has not been completed, so the Roads Division must handle it."

City Councilman Song Jae-gyu came to me, then urban planning section chief at the Urban Planning Division, and expressed his concerns.

I suggested that securing a budget for the basic plan was the first priority, as obtaining sufficient budget for Seoho Overpass installation faced numerous difficulties. For this reason, the Urban Planning Division began the first step in 1994 by establishing the basic plan for the "Seoho Overpass."

With Shim Jae-deok's election as mayor in 1995, Seoho Overpass installation proceeded smoothly. However, the Railway Administration expressed concerns about safety, citing the risk of placing a support structure 40 meters above the Gyeongbu Railway. Nevertheless, at the time, Representative Lee Ho-jeong from Suwon, who served as chairman of the Construction and Transportation Committee, persuaded the Railway Administration, allowing the project to proceed.

Seoho Overpass is an achievement realized through Mayor Shim Jae-deok's foresight and City Councilman Song Jae-gyu's passion and persistent efforts.

Elected to the Fourth City Council in 1991 and serving through the Seventh, Former City Council Chairman Song Jae-gyu dedicated 16 years to Hwaseo 1-dong and Suwon's development, leading patrols despite physical difficulties, patiently and persistently addressing residents' inconveniences. He has made significant contributions to Hwaseo 1-dong and Suwon's development.

Currently serving as chairman of Hwaseo Credit Union for four terms, he has served his community for over 30 years. We applaud his passion and dedication.