Yongsan-gu Huam-dong - Revising Urban Plan for North Side of Yongsan Park

3 Billion Won Invested to Respond to Recent Urban Environmental Changes Including US Military Base Relocation; Urban Planning, Architecture, Traffic, and Environment to be Reviewed by End of Next Year... Development Activity Permits Restricted for 3 Years in Huam-dong Area to Prevent Speculative Actions

Panorama of Huam-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Chang-hyun) is undertaking the redevelopment of the district unit plan for the Huam-dong Special Planning Zone and the northern area of Yongsan Park (510,064㎡).

This is to effectively respond to recent changes in urban environmental conditions, such as the relocation of the US military base.

The main contents of the redevelopment include ▲strengthening commercial and business functions along Hangang-ro, reviewing land use and building plans to revitalize the local economy ▲applying and specifying planning elements according to the 2030 Seoul Plan and the 2030 Seoul Living Area Plan ▲applying and specifying planning elements according to the 2025 Seoul City Urban Residential Environment Improvement Basic Plan ▲re-examining the feasibility of designating a special planning zone ▲reviewing and redeveloping the feasibility of urban planning facilities in preparation for the automatic expiration of long-unexecuted facilities ▲and redeveloping planning elements according to Seoul City's district unit plan establishment standards.

To promote the redevelopment project more thoroughly, the district has selected and operates an expert with abundant theoretical and practical experience in related fields as the Master Planner (MP) from the early stages of the project.

Additionally, based on thorough on-site surveys and data analysis, various opinions from residents will be collected and reflected in the plan. The project cost is 300 million KRW.

The district unit plan for the Huam-dong Special Planning Zone and the northern area of Yongsan Park was decided and announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2015 (Notice No. 2015-147). The land use areas are divided into residential (72.7%), green space (25.9%), and commercial (1.4%), with major infrastructure including Saenara Children's Park, Huam Market, Samgwang Elementary School, Yongsan Middle and High School, and Galwol Welfare Center.

The Huam-dong Special Planning Zone (321,281.6㎡) is further divided into 3 zones and 7 blocks. The district unit plan has relaxed the height restriction from 5 floors and 20m or less to an average of 12 floors and a maximum of 18 floors, establishing a foundation for reconstruction and redevelopment.

A district official stated, “If the project is not promoted by the end of this month, the Huam-dong Special Planning Zone will revert to the existing district unit plan,” adding, “We will then revise the infrastructure and block formation plans accordingly.”

The northern area of Yongsan Park (134,014㎡) includes the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site and military apartments. It is an area requiring linkage plans between Namsan and Yongsan Park. At the end of last year, the government announced that the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site and military apartment site would be incorporated within the boundary of Yongsan Park. The district plans to reflect this in the district unit plan according to future developments.

The district unit plan redevelopment project is scheduled to proceed from as early as July until the end of next year. Afterwards, the plan will be finalized through the Seoul City Urban Architecture Joint Committee and other procedures.

Furthermore, on the 29th, the district will designate and announce the Huam-dong Special Planning Zone area as a development activity permit restriction zone to prevent real estate speculation and ensure smooth project implementation.

The restrictions include building permits (except for major repairs), changes of use to residential, conversion of general buildings to collective buildings in the building register, and any acts that increase the number of households. The restriction period is three years from the date of announcement.

Seong Chang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “We are newly establishing the district unit plan for the Huam-dong Special Planning Zone and others to match changing conditions,” adding, “We will thoroughly review urban planning, architecture, transportation, environment, and other fields and do our best to revitalize the local economy and improve the urban landscape.”

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