Songpa-gu Launches Efforts to Create Luxury City in Geoyeo·Macheon Area... Full Administrative Support to Ensure No Delays in Cultural Heritage Excavation at Jamsil Jinju

Songpa-gu to Hold Final Report Meeting on February 18 for 'Geoyeo·Macheon Area Comprehensive Development Plan'... Promotion of Education and Culture Complex Center, Macheon Catholic District Redevelopment Promotion Zone, and Comprehensive Welfare Town

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) has completed the establishment of the ‘Geoyeon-Macheon Area (hereafter Geoma Area) Comprehensive Development Plan,’ a key project, and is starting detailed projects.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “The Geoma Area, blessed with natural environments such as Seongnaecheon Stream and Cheonmasan Mountain, has not enjoyed relative development benefits until now. Therefore, to improve the residential environment and enhance residents’ quality of life, we launched the ‘Geoma Area Comprehensive Development Plan Establishment Project’ in March last year.”

The one-year project included detailed plans based on four goals: ▲Rebirth as a premium residential complex through measures such as preservation zone management ▲Creation of a pedestrian-friendly city with walkable streets ▲Expansion of road and transportation systems including restoration of Seongnaecheon Stream and establishment of bicycle road infrastructure ▲Diversification of cultural and welfare facilities such as building an education and culture complex center utilizing donated land.

The district held a final project report meeting on the 18th and will proceed with follow-up projects by department based on the results.

In particular, the district plans to expand public facilities that can provide welfare services tailored to life cycles to increase residents’ perception of regional development.

To this end, the district will expedite the construction of the tentatively named ‘Education and Culture Complex Center’ on the donated land in Geoye 2-1 district. A feasibility study and basic plan establishment project will begin in April, and in the second half of the year, a ‘Local Administration Research Institute (LIMAC) Feasibility Study’ will be requested as a preliminary procedure for central investment review. The center is scheduled to begin construction in 2025, and until then, the district will operate the site as a ‘Resident Coexistence Parking Lot.’

Alongside this, a project for building a ‘Comprehensive Welfare Town’ will be conducted simultaneously. The Comprehensive Welfare Town, to be built on donated land in Macheon 4 district, is one of the facilities desired by residents of the Geoma Area, where welfare facilities are insufficient. A feasibility study will be conducted in the first half of this year to accelerate the project.

Planning for the preservation management zone of Macheon Catholic Church area (Macheon 5 district) will also begin. This area was selected as a candidate site for private redevelopment by Seoul City in December last year and urgently requires countermeasures against surrounding area development. Accordingly, the district will conduct a project in March to designate it as a redevelopment promotion district and proactively prepare management plans.

In addition, the district will promote restoration of Seongnaecheon Stream, ecological landmark projects for Cheonma Park, and creation of parks within a 5-minute living radius, linking them with the Songpa Dullegil Trail to establish a pedestrian network.

Mayor Park Seong-su said, “We will continuously collect opinions through a regional development council composed of experts and resident representatives, monitor the progress of detailed projects, and proceed swiftly. Since this is a large-scale development plan equivalent to new town creation, we will carry it out step-by-step without setbacks to develop the Geoma Area into a premium city in southeastern Seoul.”

Jamsil Jinju Apartment Construction Site

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) recently announced that it will make every effort to provide administrative support regarding concerns over delays in the Jamsil Jinju Apartment project, where a detailed cultural heritage excavation survey is underway.

The district has allowed construction to proceed in areas within the project site where excavation has been completed or where investigations were excluded (no cultural heritage found) to avoid disruption to the construction schedule.

Also, for general sales, the district is closely consulting with the association to ensure that sales review and other processes proceed according to the planned schedule regardless of the cultural heritage excavation.

The Jamsil Jinju Apartment site is a potential archaeological distribution area. In December last year, a preliminary survey confirmed remains from the Three Kingdoms period. The association immediately selected a professional company and has been conducting a detailed cultural heritage excavation survey since January this year. During the detailed excavation of 18,700㎡ within the 112,558㎡ project area, remains such as Three Kingdoms period pit houses, circular remains (residential ditches), post holes, and pottery lids were discovered, but so far, these findings are reported to have no value beyond ‘preservation’ of cultural heritage.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “Although there were difficulties during the architectural review process for designation as a special architectural zone last year, we put all administrative efforts into simultaneously proceeding with the project implementation change approval and construction procedures, enabling construction to start without delay in 2021. Currently, there are many concerns from residents about cultural heritage discoveries and project delays, but the district will continue to provide full administrative support to ensure no disruption to construction and sales schedules this year as well.”

He added, “The district prioritizes residents’ residential environment issues and will do its best to improve living conditions in all redevelopment, reconstruction, and remodeling projects underway in the area.”

Transfused Excavated Artifacts

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