Seocho-gu Former Jeongbosa Site Transformed into Cultural and Arts Complex Town (Art Museum, Big Data, etc.)

On the 24th, the 'Seoripul District Unit Plan Amendment (Draft)' Passed the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee Review... Tourist Accommodation Facilities Initially Considered Changed to Global Business Town and Public Office Facilities... Transforming the Former Intelligence Service Site, Which Hindered Regional Development for Over 40 Years, into a Cultural and Arts Complex Town... Transforming into the 'Korean Silicon Valley' with Blockchain, Big Data, etc. · Cultural Complex Facility (Art Museum) · Construction of Public Land

Bird's-eye view rendering

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) announced on the 24th that the “Seoripul District Unit Plan Amendment (Draft)” for the construction of a cultural and artistic complex town on the former site of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command, which had hindered regional development for over 40 years, was approved with modifications by the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee.

The “Seoripul District Unit Plan Amendment (Draft)” is a detailed development plan (draft) for a special planning zone covering 97,000㎡ excluding the park area out of the entire 160,000㎡ of the Intelligence Command site. To preserve the natural environment around Seoripul Park, residential use is prohibited. On the southern site, companies related to blockchain, big data, and other fields will be attracted to establish a 4th Industrial Revolution cluster and foster talent in advanced fields.

Additionally, the northern site, originally planned for tourism accommodation facilities, has been changed to a global business town (office facilities) and public land. Through this, the area aims to be developed into an eco-friendly advanced business hub.

Furthermore, through public contributions, a museum representing Seoul and Seocho will be constructed to create a synergy effect as a complex cultural space.

Meanwhile, improvements to the transportation system include widening Donggwang-ro, a habitual congestion section, from the original two lanes to four lanes, and securing acceleration and deceleration lanes at the intersection of the target site, which is expected to greatly improve the level of traffic service.

The site had been unable to move forward for over 40 years due to conflicts between institutions regarding preservation and development. The Ministry of National Defense wanted to build apartments, while Seoul City and residents demanded the expansion of cultural spaces preserving the forest, causing difficulties.

However, during the 6th local government administration, a swift “two-track” approach separating tunnel construction and site utilization plans led to the opening of the Seoripul Tunnel in 2019, which smoothly connected east and west that had been blocked.

The project is scheduled to start construction in 2022 and be completed in 2025, with a total investment of 2.3 trillion KRW to create an eco-friendly complex business district linked with Seoripul Park.

The district plans to reflect the contents of the “Seoripul District Unit Plan Detailed Development Plan Amendment (Draft)” approved with modifications in this review, conduct a 14-day re-examination announcement in April, and officially decide and announce it in May.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Cho stated, “With the establishment of this detailed development plan, the long-awaited projects of Seocho-gu residents, such as the ‘Seoripul Complex Cultural Space Creation’ and ‘Cultural Triangle Belt Development,’ are expected to be fully launched.” She added, “Together with the Naebang Station District Unit Plan finalized last September and the Seocho-ro District Unit Plan currently in progress, the last puzzle connecting Seocho’s east-west axis and Banpo-daero cultural development axis will be completed, allowing Seocho-gu to emerge as a central hub.”

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