Cities change constantly, but the value of nature within them does not.
Streams where water flows and life thrives are vital spaces that sustain a city's environment — and living spaces that touch the daily lives of residents.
Yet as Andong expanded, Angicheon was covered over and gradually disappeared from everyday life, reaching a point where efforts to restore the stream to its original state became necessary.
The Angicheon Ecological Stream Restoration project is being pursued to revive the stream's waterway and recover its ecological environment amid that change.
Restoring a covered stream is not simply a matter of changing its physical form. It means reclaiming a space where water can flow, allowing nature to fulfill its role within the city, and creating an environment where residents can encounter nature in their daily lives.
In that sense, the restoration of Angicheon is a process of moving toward a city where nature and people coexist.
The path to restoring a stream is not without difficulty. Inconveniences for residents during construction must be minimized, and the project must be carefully harmonized with the surrounding environment. Listening to local residents and working closely with relevant agencies is just as important as keeping the project on schedule.
Angicheon is a space deeply intertwined with the daily lives of local residents, which makes it all the more important to share the project's purpose and direction with the community and to give full consideration to the range of views raised in the field.
The development council plays an important role in this process. It serves as a forum for communication — bringing together relevant agencies and experts to examine the project and explore better approaches to restoration.
As co-chair, I intend to work with relevant agencies to keep the project moving smoothly, while also listening to local residents and contributing to the effort to make Angicheon a space the community truly needs.
As Angicheon recovers its original form, the urban environment around it will change as well. Beyond restoring the stream's ecological functions and improving the surrounding environment, it can grow into a space where residents have direct access to water and nature.
For that change to last beyond a one-time project, sustained management and continued attention after the restoration are essential.
Coexistence between nature and the city is not achieved in a single moment. It becomes possible only when efforts to protect the value of nature are paired with careful, attentive administration that keeps residents' daily lives in mind.
The restoration of Angicheon, too, will carry its greatest meaning not when construction ends, but when residents feel that change for themselves and take part in nurturing it together.
I will continue to communicate with local residents and pool our collective wisdom so that Angicheon can take its place not merely as a flowing waterway, but as a space that connects nature, people and the city.
It is my hope that the restoration of Angicheon will serve as a foundation for building an Andong where nature and people live together.
kbj7653@heraldcorp.com
