[Exclusive] Anyang Prison and Uiwang Seoul Detention Center Considered as Government Housing Supply Sites

Announcement of 'Housing Supply Measures' After Final Coordination Between Party and Government Early Next Week
Housing Supply Accelerates in Gyeonggi Following Taereung Golf Course and Yongsan Maintenance Depot

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The government is deeply discussing plans to relocate Anyang Prison in Gyeonggi Province and Uiwang Seoul Detention Center, and then supply housing on the respective sites.

On the 24th, a senior government official said, "There was an attempt to relocate Anyang Prison and Uiwang Seoul Detention Center back in 2015, but it was canceled. Now, using these sites to supply housing is being considered as an alternative," adding, "Usually, prisons or detention centers are on national or public land, so it is relatively easier to release these lands for housing supply."

Anyang Prison, completed in 1963, covers an area of 396,700㎡ and includes correctional facilities such as detention centers and medical beds. Uiwang Seoul Detention Center, located in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, spans 430,000㎡ and is one of the large-scale facilities among the 53 prisons, detention centers, and branches nationwide, with a capacity of over 1,500 inmates. Combined, the two facilities cover about 820,000㎡. Depending on the floor area ratio, housing for 10,000 to a maximum of 20,000 households could be built on these sites.

The issue is that correctional facilities are strongly perceived as undesirable facilities, so residents in the areas targeted for relocation may strongly oppose the plan. In January 2015, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance prepared a plan to relocate Anyang Prison and Seoul Detention Center to create a legal affairs town in Uiwang, but it was canceled. During the project process, residents near the planned legal affairs town site opposed the plan, leading Uiwang City to temporarily suspend consultations with central government agencies.

Recently, as public opinion regarding the real estate market has worsened, the government is reconsidering Anyang Prison and Seoul Detention Center as alternatives. Especially, Anyang and Uiwang are considered the top priority supply areas after Seoul due to their proximity to Seoul and excellent work-residence accessibility. It is also known that incentives for residents in the relocation target areas are being considered.

The government has also reviewed the option of supplying land at the Gwacheon Government Complex at the working level, but the situation is not easy. Currently, the Gwacheon Complex houses the Ministry of Justice, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

Meanwhile, next week, the ruling party and government plan to finalize and announce housing supply measures after final coordination. On the morning of the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki chaired the 'Related Ministers Meeting (Green Room Meeting)' at the Government Seoul Office to discuss measures to expand housing supply in the metropolitan area. Attendees included Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi, Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Koo Yun-cheol, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs to the President Lee Ho-seung, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun, and Seoul Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs Kim Hak-jin.

An official from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said, "Participants expressed opinions on various measures, including discovering new sites to expand housing supply in the metropolitan area, and agreed to continue consultations with related ministries and agencies," adding, "We will prepare supply measures as soon as possible."

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