Seoul City "Not Following Urban Planning" vs Harim "Ignoring Government Guidelines" (Comprehensive)

Seoul City-Harim Conflict Intensifies Over Yangjaedong Logistics Complex Development
Seoul City "Harim's Ultra-High-Density Development May Cause Severe Congestion"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] The Seoul Metropolitan Government strongly refuted Harim Group's claim that the city, as the licensing authority, is deliberately delaying the development of the former cargo terminal site in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu (urban high-tech logistics complex construction). It also criticized Harim for demanding a super high-rise and ultra-high-density development that conflicts with urban planning and is likely to cause severe congestion.

On the 3rd, Lee Jeong-hwa, Director of the Seoul City Urban Planning Bureau, held a related briefing via YouTube and made these remarks. The site currently under dispute is the former Korea Cargo Terminal site owned by Harim. In 2015, the government launched the urban high-tech logistics complex project to support logistics within cities, selecting six pilot complexes nationwide, including the Yangjae-dong complex. Since then, Harim Industrial has been discussing development methods with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City, and submitted a letter of intent to invest to Seoul City in August last year. Harim Industrial plans to install green & smart urban high-tech logistics facilities and research and development (R&D) support facilities.

However, conflict arose as Seoul City opposed Harim's plan based on urban planning. Director Lee explained, "Harim is demanding super high-rise and ultra-high-density development that conflicts with existing Seoul urban plans solely because it was selected and reflected as a pilot site for the urban high-tech logistics complex in the Ministry of Land's comprehensive logistics facility development plan," adding, "There are concerns about severe congestion around the Yangjae IC area, a habitual traffic congestion zone, and controversies over preferential excessive development."

The city aims to foster about 3 million square meters around Yangjae and Umyeon-dong, including the cargo terminal site, as an R&D innovation hub. This area is a habitual traffic congestion zone, so it is managed with a floor area ratio (FAR) of 400% or less, and the city is pushing forward with district unit plan changes to shift the land use to focus on R&D, according to the city’s explanation.

Harim, on the other hand, finds this hard to accept. Harim issued a statement titled 'Position Following the Urban Planning Bureau Briefing,' claiming, "Even after the Yangjae site was selected as a pilot complex, the Urban Planning Bureau continuously demanded that it be developed as an R&D complex contrary to the national plan," and argued that this disregards relevant laws, national plans, and government guidelines.

Harim further disclosed the official letter containing the Urban Planning Bureau's opposing opinion and stated, "While the autonomous district (Seocho-gu) is conducting procedures such as traffic impact assessments, the city intends to have the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee review the matter ex officio, which is difficult to understand." This emphasized once again that Seoul City is deliberately delaying the urban high-tech logistics complex project led by the national government.

The conflict between the two sides is clearly reflected in the floor area ratio and number of floors. The area is a commercial zone where a maximum of 800% FAR is theoretically possible, but Seoul City classifies it as a 'district center' under urban planning, allowing only up to 400%. Director Lee said, "Harim demanded an 800% FAR and 70 floors, but the district center is managed with a maximum of 50 floors and a FAR of 400% or less." The commercial zone designation for the area was intended only to allow urban planning facilities such as distribution business facilities, not to apply the 'maximum FAR of 800%,' according to Director Lee. He also expressed concerns about controversies over preferential excessive development.

Harim pointed out, "We merely submitted a letter of intent applying the maximum allowable FAR according to the Ministry of Land's logistics complex development guidelines stating 'the upper limit of the floor area ratio can be applied,'" adding, "The floor area ratio will be finalized through the review of the Logistics Complex Planning Deliberation Committee chaired by the Mayor of Seoul."

The city stated that it has confirmed with the Ministry of Land that the logistics complex development must comply with the urban development plan. Director Lee explained, "At that time, we requested the Ministry of Land to clarify that the site must follow our city policy direction, and the Ministry replied that 'the city can judge whether the development plan aligns with city policy.'"

In the briefing, Seoul City demanded that Harim propose a plan that fits the development conditions of the area and Seoul’s higher-level plans while minimizing negative impacts.

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