Yongsan-gu, Approval of Housing Construction Project Plan for Asia Apartment Special Planning Zone

Apartment Complex of 13 Buildings Including 969 Units and Ancillary Facilities to Be Developed on 65-584 Hangangno 3-ga Area (51,915㎡)... Some Housing to Be Used as Accommodation for US Embassy Staff in Korea

Bird's-eye view

Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone Housing Construction Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seongjang Hyun) has approved the housing construction project plan for the Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone.

The project location is at 65-584 Hangang-ro 3-ga, Yongsan-gu, along with 10 other parcels.

The project period is 40 months from the date of plan approval, covering an implementation area of 51,915㎡ (site area 46,524㎡, road 5,391㎡).

The main use includes multi-family housing (969 units) and ancillary welfare facilities, consisting of 13 apartment buildings ranging from 3 basement floors to 11-32 floors above ground (with 2 separate neighborhood living facilities).

Most of the multi-family housing (819 units) will be sold to the public, while 150 units will be donated to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for use as public offices (housing for US Embassy staff). US Embassy staff will be allocated 4 to 25 units per building.

The total building area is 10,603㎡, and the total floor area is 243,445㎡. A building coverage ratio of 22.79% and a floor area ratio of 336% were applied. Unit sizes range from 84 to 137㎡ for housing and 84 to 199㎡ for public offices.

The Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone was formerly used as military land for the Yongsan US military base, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Welfare Group, and military apartments. It was designated as a special planning zone in 2001, and in 2014, Booyoung Group purchased the site from the Ministry of National Defense.

Since then, the project has undergone reviews by the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee, detailed development planning, traffic impact assessment, underground safety impact assessment, architectural plan review, environmental impact assessment, and educational environment impact assessment. Construction will begin in June after all remaining procedures are completed.

Currently, the US Embassy staff housing is located in the South Post area south of the Yongsan base. According to an agreement between South Korea and the US in 2005, when the US Embassy moves from Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu to Camp Coiner north of Yongsan base, the staff housing was also planned to move accordingly.

However, the district government judged that this would block all northern access routes to Yongsan Park, which is to be developed on the former Yongsan US military base. Since 2016, they have promoted relocating the US Embassy staff housing to the Asea Apartment zone.

Through high-level meetings with the US Embassy Administrative Director and Seoul City Deputy Mayor for Administration, the necessity of the project was communicated, and in 2018, an official proposal was submitted to Seoul City.

Subsequently, Seoul City formalized this through the ‘Decision (Change) on Detailed Development Plan for Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone and Announcement of Topographic Map (Seoul Metropolitan Government Announcement No. 2020-39, January 23, 2020).’

Seongjang Hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “A large-scale apartment complex will be newly established in Hangang-ro-dong, and local development is expected to accelerate significantly.”

He added, “The US Embassy staff housing, originally planned for the Camp Coiner area of Yongsan base, will be relocated to the Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone. With an additional 30,000㎡ of northern passageway connecting Namyeong and Huam-dong to Yongsan Park secured, this will also contribute to the complete creation of Yongsan Park.”

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