Gwangmyeong-Siheung '70,000 Households' New Town Development... 100,000 Households Supply Including Busan and Gwangju

Announcement of 1st Phase Sites for New Housing Land under 2·4 Supply Plan
Gwangmyeong-Siheung Selected as 6th 3rd Generation New Town with 70,000 Households
20 Minutes to Yeouido, 45 Minutes to Gangnam... Expansion of Transportation Network
Supply of 30,000 Households in Busan Daejeo, Gwangju Sanjeong, and Others

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Among the approximately 250,000 new public housing units announced in the government's 2.4 Plan, the locations for 100,000 units have been confirmed. The most notable site is the Gwangmyeong-Siheung district located in the Seoul metropolitan area. As the sixth 3rd-generation new town and a hub for the development of the southwestern region, 70,000 housing units will be supplied here. With transportation infrastructure enabling access to downtown Seoul within 20 minutes, it is expected to absorb a significant portion of the population not only from Seoul but also from Gyeonggi Province.

Gwangmyeong-Siheung, repeatedly thwarted as a new town... becomes a 'Southwestern hub'

The Gwangmyeong-Siheung district is located in Gwangmyeong-si’s Gwangmyeong, Okgil, Noon-sa, Gahak-dong areas and Siheung-si’s Gwarim, Mujinae, Geum-i-dong areas in Gyeonggi Province. Covering an area of 12.71 million square meters, it is larger than Namyangju Wangsuk (8.662 million square meters, 54,000 housing units), the largest among the 3rd-generation new towns, and twice the size of Hanam Gyosan (6.314 million square meters, 34,000 housing units). It ranks as the sixth largest new town overall.

The Gwangmyeong-Siheung district has been mentioned several times in the past as a site for new town-level development but was repeatedly thwarted. In 2010, it was designated as a public housing district with plans to develop a new town surpassing Ilsan New Town, but the project was halted due to the real estate market downturn at the time. After being deregulated from the public housing district in 2015, it was designated as a special management area. It was also a strong candidate during the 2018 announcement of the 3rd-generation new towns, but due to local residents' opposition and worsening traffic congestion, the designation ultimately failed.

The area will have transportation networks enabling access to Yeouido within 20 minutes, Seoul Station within 25 minutes, and Gangnam Station within 45 minutes. A railway network connecting existing subway lines 1, 2, and 7 with the currently planned Sinansan Line, GTX-B, and the 2nd Gyeongin Line will be established. Additionally, a north-south urban railway running through the new town will be constructed to facilitate transfers between lines.

Notably, about 3.8 million square meters (approximately 30% of the area) of parks and green spaces, the largest among the 3rd-generation new towns, will be created here. An eco-friendly green system will be established through waterfront parks such as Mokgamcheon, and nearby youth culture and exhibition art spaces will be provided. Existing projects like Gwangmyeong Technovalley and Gwangmyeong Hakon public housing districts will be utilized to support the settlement of entrepreneurs and original residents.

Apartment complexes in the Gangnam area as seen from a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency helicopter on the 10th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

30,000 housing units supplied in Busan and Gwangju... creation of regional hubs

The government will also designate new sites near Busan and Gwangju to supply a total of 30,000 housing units. First, the Busan Daejeo district, covering 2.43 million square meters, will see the addition of 18,000 housing units. To create a self-sufficient city linked with the Busan Research and Development Special Zone, residential areas will be supplied as a hinterland, and a 150,000 square meter self-sufficient land will be allocated in adjacent areas to strengthen the special zone’s functions. A 'Startup Support Hub' will be introduced to establish a convergence industry cluster in the western Busan area.

Transportation functions will also be significantly expanded. A station for the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit will be newly established within the district to improve public transportation convenience toward downtown Busan and Gimhae. This will allow arrival at Seomyeon within 30 minutes and Busan Station within 20 minutes. Additionally, a 620,000 square meter park and green space will be created to establish a green corridor linked with the Nakdong River.

The Gwangju Sanjeong district, a 1.68 million square meter site adjacent to Eodeungsan Mountain, will supply 13,000 housing units. This area will provide residential spaces for workers linked with the Gwangju-type job project and the Bitgreen Industrial Complex. Advanced logistics facilities connected with local industrial complexes will be developed, and a youth support network centered on youth startup housing linked with nearby universities will be established. Within the district, 380,000 square meters of parks and green spaces, including water-themed parks utilizing Sunamje, Gayaje, and Sanjeongje reservoirs, will be created to improve the residential environment.

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