Seongbuk-gu Issues Research Service to Minimize Hollowing-Out Damage in Area of Korea National University of Arts Relocation

Seongbuk-gu Initiates Self-Research Project to Establish Response Policies Minimizing Regional Decline Due to Korea National University of Arts Relocation... Seokgwan-dong Resident Group 'HanYeJong Jikigi Promotion Committee' Actively Opposes with SNS Relay Campaign

Seungro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, "In Seokgwan-dong, where about 82% of businesses are small-scale enterprises with four or fewer employees, the relocation of the Korea National University of Arts will cause a huge loss to the local economy," adding, "It is necessary for the Korea National University of Arts and Seongbuk-gu to develop policy alternatives that promote coexistence within the region."

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) initiated the "Seongbuk-gu-Hangyejong Regional Coexistence Academic Research Project" on the 19th of last month to explore measures to prevent community decline in relation to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's issue of relocating the Korea National University of Arts (hereafter ‘Hangyejong’).

According to the restoration plan for the Joseon Royal Tombs Uireung (located in Seokgwan-dong), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently considering relocating and establishing the Hangyejong campus due to the need to move the annex part of the Hangyejong Seokgwan-dong campus situated on the site.

In this context, while some local governments among the candidate relocation areas are competing to attract Hangyejong, Seongbuk-gu has expressed opposition to the relocation of Hangyejong, concerned about economic stagnation and regional slum formation around the Hangyejong Seokgwan-dong campus.

The district plans to promote its own research project to seek policy measures that allow the Hangyejong Seokgwan-dong campus, a hub for nurturing and activities of cultural artists, to coexist with Seongbuk-gu.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s "Basic Concept Study for Hangyejong Campus," completed in February, proposed integrated and hub-type campus models focusing on campus area systems and spatial programming for the six colleges of Hangyejong. It also included objective analysis and review of six candidate relocation sites and suggestions for utilizing existing facilities (Seokgwan-dong, Seocho-dong).

Seongbuk-gu plans to expand on the Ministry’s suggested utilization of existing facilities by maintaining the Seokgwan-dong new building continuously and reviewing cultural and artistic utilization plans for the remaining buildings (school headquarters, Arts Information Center, Arts Theater, Drama and Film College) in its own research project.

Additionally, this project will analyze the impact of Hangyejong on the nearby commercial districts such as Seokgwan-dong and the economic, social, and cultural repercussions of Hangyejong’s relocation. The project is scheduled for completion in August.

The results of the research will be used to establish strategic response directions to minimize the social impact on Seongbuk-gu caused by the Hangyejong relocation issue.

Previously, in October last year, Seongbuk-gu directly submitted a statement to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism opposing the relocation of Hangyejong and requesting measures to prevent community decline due to the school’s relocation, titled "Seongbuk-gu’s Opinion for Cultural Development and Regional Coexistence."

Since March, Seongbuk-gu has also been conducting the "Hangyejong Relocation Opposition and Regional Coexistence SNS Relay Campaign" together with the Seokgwan-dong residents’ organization, the "Hangyejong Protection Promotion Committee."

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, stated, “About 82% of businesses in Seokgwan-dong are small-scale enterprises with fewer than four employees. The relocation of Hangyejong would cause enormous economic losses to nearby landlords and small business owners.” He added, “Since the relocation issue involves the interests of local residents, the school, students, and various cultural artists, please make every effort to gather diverse and in-depth opinions during the research process so that policy alternatives enabling Hangyejong and Seongbuk-gu to coexist within the region can be proposed.”

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