Seoul Jung-gu Administrative Complex and Seoul Makers Park (SMP) Construction Kickoff

Government Preliminary Feasibility Study Passed for Administrative Complex and Seoul Makers Park (SMP) Construction Project Economic Viability... Construction of 'Administrative Complex' Public Convenience Facility on Site of Sindang-dong Iltaehyeon Chungmu Art Center... Establishment of Urban Industry Hub 'Seoul Makers Park' on Euljiro Site (Current Jung-gu Office Site)

Perspective rendering of the administrative complex building, including Seoul Jung-gu Office, to be built on the current site of Chungmu Art Hall

Perspective view of Chungmu Heart Hall and printing support facilities to be built on the site of the current Jung-gu Office building in Seoul Makers Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seoyangho) announced that the 'Administrative Complex Building and Seoul Makers Park (SMP) Development Project' has finally passed the government’s preliminary feasibility study (hereinafter referred to as the feasibility study) on the 14th.

The feasibility study conducted by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) from February to September this year showed that the project’s economic feasibility (benefit-cost ratio, B/C) was 1.02, financial feasibility (profitability index, P/I) was 0.97, and comprehensive evaluation (AHP) was 0.584, exceeding the benchmark of 0.5, indicating sufficient project viability.

This project aims to rearrange public facilities centered on user demand to enhance residents’ convenience, revitalize the urban industrial ecosystem, and strengthen Jung-gu’s urban competitiveness.

The aging Jung-gu Office building, completed over 50 years ago, is located far from Sindang-dong, where the majority of residents live, making access difficult. In addition, the limited space for resident convenience facilities, office areas, meeting rooms, auditoriums, and parking cannot meet the rapidly increasing administrative demands and residents’ heightened expectations, making improvement urgent.

Also, due to the characteristics of the downtown area, the low resident population causes a hollowing-out phenomenon. To resolve this and promote the influx of diverse resident populations, there is a need to create a safe and pleasant living environment with close proximity between residence and workplace, as well as to expand the supply of public housing.

The Euljiro area, where the Jung-gu Office is located, is the hub of the printing industry in Seoul, housing 67% of the city’s printing companies. However, recent redevelopment pressures have accelerated the displacement of downtown manufacturing industries, and factors such as aging physical infrastructure, fragile subcontracting structures, and an aging workforce have led to the decline of the printing industry and worsening conditions for manufacturing.

In response, the district held over 100 project briefing sessions in 2019 to gather residents’ opinions, established the basic plan for the Administrative Complex Building and Seoul Makers Park (SMP) Development Project in 2020, and selected LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation) and SH (Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation) as joint project implementation agents. In Sindang and Hwanghak areas (currently the site of Chungmu Art Center), where 70% of residents live, an administrative complex building integrating various living SOC (social overhead capital) facilities is planned, while in the Euljiro area (current Jung-gu Office site), which is densely populated with downtown manufacturing industries, the Seoul Makers Park (SMP), a mixed-use urban industrial hub space combining industry, culture, and residence, is being promoted.

The 'Administrative Complex Building' will have a total floor area of approximately 85,000㎡, with 6 basement levels and 16 floors above ground, housing the district office, district council, library, sports center, daycare center, and other resident convenience facilities as well as public housing, providing resident-centered one-stop administrative services.

Additionally, the 'Seoul Makers Park (SMP)' will have a total floor area of about 80,000㎡, with 6 basement levels and 29 floors above ground, including a printing industry support center, performance facilities such as Chungmu Art Center, and public housing, serving as an anchor facility for supporting and fostering downtown industries and revitalizing culture and arts.

With the feasibility study passed, the district plans to swiftly proceed with subsequent administrative procedures and aims to start construction as early as the second half of 2023 after investment review and design, completing construction and occupancy by 2026, accelerating project implementation.

Seoyangho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "With the feasibility study passed, the establishment of the Administrative Complex Building and Seoul Makers Park, which will open a new future for Jung-gu, has become tangible. As this project is an innovative initiative that will change the two main axes of the Jung-gu map, we will proceed through sufficient public discussion to ensure it truly meets residents’ needs by incorporating diverse voices from the field. We ask for the residents’ great interest and cooperation throughout the process."

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