Seoul City Decides to Make Songhyeon-dong Site a 'Park'... "Official Notice Deferred Until After the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's Mediation"

Approval of the Revised Plan for Bukchon District Unit at the 14th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee Meeting on the 7th
"Under the mediation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, three attendance meetings and working-level meetings held to discuss sale timing and methods"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to designate the Korean Air Songhyeon-dong site as a 'park.' However, the official announcement of the decision, which carries legal effect, will be postponed until the ongoing mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is completed. The city plans to continue smooth consultations with Korean Air regarding the sale.

On the 7th, Seoul held the 14th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting and announced that the decision (amendment) on the Bukchon district unit plan, including the Korean Air Songhyeon-dong site, was 'approved with modifications.' The amendment includes abolishing the 'special planning zone' of the 37,141.6㎡ former U.S. Embassy staff residence site in Songhyeon-dong and designating it as a 'park.'

Seoul stated, "Since securing the budget for land acquisition requires following procedures under relevant laws, the Urban and Architectural Joint Committee review and related procedures were expedited to support Korean Air, which is experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic," explaining the purpose of submitting the agenda to the committee on that day.

However, the official announcement of the decision with legal effect will be postponed until the ongoing mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is completed. Seoul said, "Considering Korean Air's situation, which must recover the sale amount by early next year, the option of a third party pre-purchasing the Songhyeon-dong site and later exchanging it with city-owned land is also being reviewed and negotiated in detail."

Seoul said it is conducting smooth consultations with Korean Air regarding the sale of the Songhyeon-dong site. The city emphasized, "In June, Korean Air filed a grievance complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and under the commission's mediation, three attendance meetings, working-level meetings, and executive interviews have been actively held to discuss the timing and method of the land sale."

The city decided to designate the site as a park for public use to restore the site's locality and plans to establish detailed plans for the park through public discussions involving citizens and experts.

During the Japanese colonial period, the site was used as a residence for employees of the Chosen Industrial Bank (owned by the Oriental Development Company). After liberation, it was requisitioned by the U.S. military and used as U.S. military housing and the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Korea. In 1997, Samsung Life Insurance purchased the site, and in 2008, Korean Air acquired it again.

Kim Hak-jin, Deputy Mayor for Administration of Seoul, said, "The Songhyeon-dong park project is a nationally important project from a historical and cultural perspective and supports the aviation industry, a key national industry. Cooperation and collaboration with the central government and related agencies are essential." He added, "We appreciate the cooperation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, financial authorities, and other related agencies that have worked to resolve pending issues. We plan to continue close cooperation with Korean Air and related agencies going forward."

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