[Square] National Balanced Development through Utilization of State-Owned Land

An Jung-geun / Professor, Department of Urban Engineering, Gyeongsang National University · Member, Central Urban Planning Committee

State-owned land, as the name suggests, refers to land owned by the government. In South Korea, state-owned land accounts for 25% of the total land area (100,000 km²), covering 25,000 km². It is classified into administrative properties used for public, corporate, and conservation purposes, and general properties. General properties can be utilized for development purposes such as leasing or disposal, with an area of 409 km² as of 2018, which is 133 times the size of Yeouido in Seoul.

The 2018 amendment to the State Property Act, which introduced land development, marked a significant step in establishing a foundation for utilizing state-owned land. With the announcement of 11 pilot projects nationwide, the development of state-owned land officially began. State-owned land development projects have the advantage of easy title acquisition since ownership belongs to the state, and the time required for compensation is shortened, enabling rapid policy effects. The pilot projects also aim to stabilize housing through youth housing supply, create jobs by fostering innovation spaces, and promote regional development through urban regeneration, making visible impacts.

Recently, the public seems to have realized how abundant state-owned land is around us while reviewing the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s “Plan to Expand Housing Supply in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.” Large-scale state-owned lands such as Taereung CC, Yongsan Camp Kim, and the Seoul Regional Public Procurement Service are located in prime areas of Seoul, which has come as a new awareness.

As housing prices in Seoul and the metropolitan area surged, the government announced the supply plan for the 3rd phase of new towns in the metropolitan area. However, judging that it would be difficult to calm market anxiety, an additional plan to utilize state-owned land in urban areas, which can be supplied faster without land compensation procedures, was announced, and the housing market appears to be gradually stabilizing.

Moreover, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designated Yongsan Reservoir, a state-owned land under its jurisdiction, as a national pilot project zone for urban regeneration innovation districts in December last year. This supports the revitalization of the depressed Yongsan Electronics Market and housing stability for young people and newlyweds in urban areas, making state-owned land a key player in urban regeneration policies. In May, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to enact a special law to promote forest leisure tourism, such as mountain hotels like those in Switzerland, preparing for the expansion of domestic tourism demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourist complexes utilizing state-owned forests are expected to emerge.

In local small and medium-sized cities experiencing population decline and rapid aging, creating residential environments and attracting businesses using state and public land can serve as a major driving force to lead regional competitiveness by inducing residents and businesses to relocate from large cities. Additionally, abandoned schools and agricultural warehouses in rural areas can be revitalized through rural utopia projects such as rural experiences, stays, and returning to farming or rural living, becoming valuable seeds for balanced national development.

The current COVID-19 situation has caused an unprecedented pandemic and increased interest in domestic tourism, leisure, and healthcare alongside non-face-to-face (untact) trends. Looking at overseas cases, Switzerland operates mountain hotels at 3,100 meters above sea level in the Alps, and Singapore has developed an entire state-owned island into a family-oriented marine theme park. Utilizing non-urban areas can be a solution to these demands.

Since the state continues to own the land even after development, there is no need to worry about a reduction in state property due to development. Utilizing previously neglected non-urban areas can contribute to balanced national development through effective land use, respond to local extinction, and is expected to increase fiscal revenue.

The answer to land use suitable for the post-COVID new normal era is the utilization of state-owned land. State-owned land is the final puzzle piece that can be practically used where and when the public needs it. We look forward to wise utilization through customized development of state-owned land located in various regions.

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