[Interview] Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, "Opening of Gwangjin-gu Complex Government Building Era... Establishing Guui Station Area as a Seoul Landmark"

The main building of Gwangjin District Office, originally the Republican Party training center in 1967, is the oldest among Seoul district offices at 54 years... Construction of a complex building with 5 basement floors and 18 above-ground floors in Jayang 1 Redevelopment Promotion Zone, integrating the district office, council, and health center, begins this month... Expected to revitalize the commercial area around Guui Station, which has been stagnant due to the relocation of the Eastern District Court and Prosecutor's Office in March 2017 and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “The current Gwangjin-gu Office main building was completed in 1967 and has deteriorated to the point of receiving a safety grade of D. Due to a lack of office space, two nearby buildings have been leased, causing departments to be scattered across multiple locations, resulting in inefficiencies in public administrative services and many complaints from residents. Therefore, the district is promoting the construction of a complex government building integrated with the district office, district council, and health center in the Jayang 1 Redevelopment Promotion Zone, with 5 basement floors and 18 floors above ground.”

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Seon-gap expressed his determination to build the new office in an interview. The main building of the Gwangjin-gu Office was originally the Republican Party training center building completed in 1967, making it 54 years old this year and the oldest among Seoul’s district office buildings.

Because of this, the working conditions for employees have been very poor. After long efforts to build a new district office, it was finally decided to construct a complex government building housing the district office and district council in the Jayang 1 Redevelopment Promotion Zone, located on the site of the former Eastern District Court and Prosecutor’s Office, a project promoted by KT.

In particular, this project, which began construction this month after long preparation, is highly anticipated by the local community.

First, the KT site advanced business complex development project around Guui Station is the largest-scale complex development project in Gwangjin-gu, covering a total area of 78,147㎡ (approximately 23,640 pyeong). It will include the new Gwangjin-gu Office, 1,363 residential units, office buildings, accommodation facilities (hotel), retail and cultural assembly facilities, and other large-scale mixed-use facilities.

The residential units will consist of 631 general sale units, 432 private rental units, and 300 SH Happy Housing units. Notably, through the disposition process, the management authority, Gwangjin-gu, will directly receive the new office site (5,684㎡) as a donation. Mayor Kim said, “Especially, a portion of the sales facilities on the second basement floor of the new office building (about 445 pyeong), which was originally planned to be KT’s Pandae facilities as part of the complex development, will be opened free of charge for 30 years as a convenience space for residents through persistent persuasion and negotiation with the project implementer.”

Once completed, the area around Guui Station will be developed into a new-concept advanced business complex where public office spaces coexist with residential, cultural, and commercial facilities, expected to serve as a leading central hub for regional development. Furthermore, if the Dong Seoul Terminal modernization project gains momentum, the area connecting Gangbyeon Station, Guui Station, and Konkuk University Station along the east-west development axis will become a key center in the northeastern region, attracting the attention of Seoul citizens. Mayor Kim stated, “We signed a business agreement with NCP (a KT subsidiary), the project implementer, to attract KT’s excellent affiliates to the office facilities within the Jayang 1 Redevelopment Promotion Zone and cooperate in regional development. Also, when hiring personnel needed for retail facilities, hotels, cultural and assembly facilities, and construction sites, we will provide jobs to Gwangjin-gu residents and cooperate in creating local employment.”

Additionally, instead of installing a separate cafeteria at the construction site, surrounding restaurants will be used, and when purchasing construction consumables, priority contracts will be made with companies within Gwangjin-gu, which is expected to revitalize the local commercial district that residents can feel. Mayor Kim said, “The KT site advanced business development project around Guui Station was designated as the Guui-Jayang Redevelopment Promotion Zone in 2006, and breaking ground after 15 years holds great significance for residents. Especially, it is expected to revitalize the commercial district around Guui Station, which has been depressed due to the relocation of the Eastern District Court and Prosecutor’s Office in March 2017 and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.” He added, “Once construction fully begins this month, it will become a new landmark in Seoul that residents can be proud of, revitalizing the local economy and creating abundant jobs, further upgrading Gwangjin-gu.”

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