Rise of the 'Northwest Economic and Cultural Hub' Around Susaek and DMC Stations?

Attracting Corporate Headquarters to Sampyo Energy Site / Securing Multicultural Museum Cultural Facilities... Forming a New Cultural Tourism Axis Connecting Sampyo Rooftop Observatory - Multicultural Museum - Bulgwangcheon Broadcast Culture Street

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that the 'District Unit Plan Special Planning Zone-10 (Sampyo Energy) Detailed Development Plan Decision (Draft)' for the area around Susaek and DMC stations was approved with modifications at the 8th Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee held on May 12.

Sampyo Energy Headquarters and Rental Apartment Bird's-Eye View

This detailed development plan (draft) was promoted to develop the area as a commercial, business, and cultural complex hub to strengthen the role of the metropolitan center function reflected in higher-level plans such as the 2030 Seoul Living Area Plan and the Susaek Station Area Development Plan.

The target site is approximately 9,000㎡ of land near Susaek and DMC stations, currently used as warehouses and an LPG filling station. It is a super-station area with excellent transportation accessibility including DMC Station, Airport Railroad Line, and Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

The Sampyo Energy detailed development plan (draft) was first proposed in January 2015 and went through administrative procedures such as public inspection and consultations with related agencies. It was submitted to the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee in July 2018 but was deferred due to opinions that comprehensive review was needed in connection with surrounding development plans, including building usage and public space plans.

Accordingly, since 2019, the district has actively engaged in cooperative consultations with Seoul City and the proposer to reflect the review results, and in December last year, it proceeded with a preliminary advisory process at the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee.

As a result of the preliminary advisory, an opinion was given to plan the residential facility (including officetel) ratio to be 40% or less. To expedite the project, internal expert advice was actively utilized, and the plan was changed to secure a ratio of 60% or more for office and retail facilities considering uses that can perform metropolitan functions. This revised plan was submitted to the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee in April this year and has now been approved with modifications.

This detailed development plan (draft) includes not only the introduction of a northwestern metropolitan center commercial facility around DMC Station but also the establishment of a three-dimensional pedestrian network through aboveground pedestrian connections and underground passage installations linking to DMC Station to activate exchanges between the Susaek and Sangam areas. It also reflects the installation of a rooftop observatory with views of Bukhansan Mountain and Bulgwangcheon Stream.

Additionally, the plan includes changes in zoning (from quasi-residential to general commercial area), plans for public pedestrian pathways within the project site connecting the Gyeongui-Jungang Line plaza, public housing district, and Bulgwangcheon Broadcasting Culture Street, road widening along Susaek-ro, securing cultural facilities (Multicultural Museum, Multicultural Family Support Center), and plans for pedestrian connections on the 4th floor and underground passageways linking to the DMC Station complex development site. These are expected to bring revolutionary changes to the area around Susaek and DMC stations.

An official from Eunpyeong-gu stated, “With the attraction of Sampyo Energy headquarters, the nearby area is expected to play a leading role as a local landmark and invigorate the regional economy.”

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “As a result of multiple requests to Seoul City, the Multicultural Museum secured through a donation method will be built as a complex cultural space where families can experience diverse cultures from around the world. It will be designed so that not only multicultural families but also local residents can easily access and experience various cultures.”

She added, “By installing an observatory on the top floor (29th floor) of the Sampyo Energy headquarters with views of Bukhansan Mountain and Bulgwangcheon Stream, the cultural tourism belt connecting the rooftop observatory, Multicultural Museum, Bulgwangcheon Broadcasting Culture Street, Innovation Park, and Jingwan-dong Han Culture Special Zone is expected to achieve greater synergy.”

DMC Surrounding Area Connectivity Plan

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