Seoul's 'Yeoksegeon Compact City' Project Kicks Off... Pilot Projects in Hongdae, Sillim, and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to actively promote a station area revitalization project that creates compact cities with close proximity between workplaces and residences by developing high-density, mixed-use land near station areas.

On the 28th, Seoul announced the basic plans for five pilot project sites: around Gongneung Station, Banghak Station, Hongdae Entrance Station, Sinlim Line 110 station area, and Boramae Station. These are the first project sites to concretely realize the "Station Area Revitalization Project" announced by the city last June, which focuses on customized mixed-use development for each station area. These locations either have universities nearby or plans for new subway stations, requiring responses to housing demands from young people and newlywed couples. A total of 1,471 housing units (public and private) and living SOC will be newly supplied.

The station area revitalization project is a plan to create compact cities spatially concentrating residential and non-residential functions in station areas with concentrated public transportation infrastructure, making them desirable places to live. It aims to revitalize downtown by simultaneously expanding insufficient public rental facilities, shared parking lots, offices, and commercial spaces, and to address urban problems such as traffic congestion, fine dust, and depletion of developable land through a new urban planning strategy.

The project is promoted by increasing floor area ratio through zoning upgrades (e.g., from general residential to commercial areas) and receiving public contributions of 50% of the increased floor area ratio for essential local facilities such as public rental facilities and shared parking lots. The city explained that this is a win-win strategy where private developers improve profitability and the public sector expands necessary living SOC in the area.

The five pilot project sites were selected through a local government competition in September last year. The selection comprehensively considered regional balance development and narrowing the gap between Gangnam and Gangbuk areas, the willingness of local governments and landowners to promote the project, and the ripple effects of regional revitalization through expansion of necessary facilities such as rental housing. The city stated that since the station area revitalization project is newly launched, pilot sites were selected through procedures including local government briefings and candidate site competitions to build consensus between the city and districts.

From October last year for about six months, a task force (TF) composed of landowners, city and district departments, Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), and Seoul Institute led a total of 23 discussions (4-5 times per site), incorporating expert advice into the basic plans. Each pilot site TF operated as a collaboration system among experts, private developers, and the public sector. One member of the expert advisory group (Station Area Revitalization Project Support Advisory Group) participated as the overall planner, and the project entities (landowners and planning consultants), city and district officials, SH Corporation, and Seoul Institute were involved.

The Station Area Revitalization Project Support Advisory Group consists of 10 experts in urban planning, architecture, and transportation from the Seoul Metropolitan Government Urban Planning Committee and Urban Architecture Joint Committee. They provided advice, coordination, and alternatives for the project plans. They will continue to play an advisory role to ensure consistency from planning to decision-making.

According to the basic plan, a total of 1,471 housing units (1,166 private, 305 public rental) will be supplied across the five station areas. Public contributions from increased floor area ratio will secure 305 public rental housing units, 3,097㎡ of public rental office space (gross floor area), 1,743㎡ of public rental commercial space, 4,757㎡ of locally needed facilities, and 2,703㎡ of shared parking lots, expanding various necessary facilities in the area. Private developers are expected to secure 1,166 apartment units and 55,574㎡ of office and commercial space.

Seoul plans to initiate urban management plan change procedures such as zoning changes and district unit plan decisions for the five sites in the first half of the year, complete them within the year, and begin construction in the first half of next year. Zoning changes and district unit plan decisions will be finalized through public inspection notices in the project areas, district council opinion hearings, district urban planning committee consultations, followed by city council opinion hearings, and reviews by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Urban Planning Committee and Urban Architecture Joint Committee.

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