Crackdown targets unruly behavior along Cheonggye Stream

Cheonggye Stream, the scenic 5-mile urban waterway snaking through downtown Seoul, has long served as a tranquil refuge where locals and tourists cool their feet on hot summer days.

Lately, however, the public landmark has witnessed a string of jarring incidents, from visitors using the pristine waters as an open-air bathtub to opportunistic trespassers diving in to scoop up coins tossed into wishing wells.

Fed up with unruly behavior, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday a sweeping crackdown on etiquette violations, pledging dedicated patrol guards and legal reforms to fine offenders on the spot.

Under the new plan, city authorities are stationing permanent security guards at high-friction hotspots, including the Palseokdam wishing pool and the Gosanja Bridge area.

These monitors join a floating team of 40 safety officers from the Seoul Facilities Corp., who regularly patrol the 8.12-kilometer waterway to instantly halt unauthorized activities like bathing, swimming, smoking, drinking and vandalism.

Beyond physical enforcement, city officials are adding enforceable lega ...