During the Joseon period (1392–1910), Cheonggyecheon Stream was called Gaecheon (meaning “open stream”). After the reign of King Sejong (r. 1418–1450), the stream was not properly maintained and often flooded after rain. The people inside the city walls suffered serious damage each time. In the late Joseon period, King Yeongjo (r. 1724–1776) resolved to eliminate flood damage by embarking on a massive dredging project. Dredging (“juncheon” in Korean) refers to the act of excavating materials from the bottom of a stream to allow for water to flow smoothly through the waterway. This exhibition will examine the meaning of maintaining Gaecheon in Hanyang (Seoul) by focusing on King Yeongjo’s dredging project.