Measures to Preserve Nopo in Sewoon, Stalled, to Be Released by the End of This Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Seoul City is set to unveil a comprehensive plan for the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District as early as the end of this month. To preserve the traditional urban industries around Euljiro Sewoon Shopping Center, the city plans to create public rental commercial spaces where tenant merchants can continue their businesses. However, the 3-2 district, which includes Euljimyeonok?a site Seoul had intended to preserve as a 'living heritage'?is expected to shift toward development.

On the 7th, Seoul City announced that after final hearings with stakeholders including civic groups, tenants, landowners, and project implementers, it will finalize the comprehensive plan for the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District and announce it as early as the end of this month.

Since early last year, the city has been reviewing the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District project from the perspective of preserving the area's traditional urban industries and long-established businesses, aiming to prepare a comprehensive plan. Although the announcement was initially scheduled for the end of last year, the process of gathering and coordinating stakeholder opinions between Seoul City and Jung-gu delayed the announcement until early this year.

The core focus is on 'preserving traditional urban industries' and 'preserving long-established businesses.' To protect the industrial ecosystem and tenants, the city is considering creating temporary commercial spaces in each district to facilitate relocation. Once the public rental commercial buildings are completed, tenants operating in the temporary spaces will move in. Whether to build a large-scale building in one location or establish public rental commercial spaces by district will be decided after gathering opinions. The sites for public rental commercial spaces are being considered through donation or by utilizing stockpiled land owned by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).

Among the 171 designated redevelopment zones within the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District, 152 zones subject to the sunset clause are expected to have their redevelopment designations lifted. After the designation is lifted, conversion to urban regeneration projects is being considered. Landowners in each district applied for an extension of the redevelopment designation in October and November last year after obtaining consent from more than 30% of landowners, but this is only an application requirement, and the district can be lifted at the discretion of the city or provincial governor.

The Sewoon 3-2 district, where Euljimyeonok is located, is likely to proceed with redevelopment. In early last year, Seoul City stated, "The fundamental principle is that long-established businesses designated as living heritage, such as Euljimyeonok, will not be 'forcibly' demolished simply because legal requirements are met." At that time, Euljimyeonok and others were opposing forced demolition through litigation. However, during discussions, the owner of Euljimyeonok reportedly rejected the method of preserving the original form intact.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.