[Report] "If Told to Leave, I Must Leave" President-Elect Yoon's Review of Yongsan Office Sparks Fear of Eviction in Homeless Tent Village

Yoon Seok-yeol President-Elect's Office Relocation Candidates
Shortlisted: Seoul Gwanghwamun Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building and Yongsan Ministry of National Defense Building
Concerns Over Eviction of Homeless from Yongsan Station 'Tent Village'
Experts Urge Attention and Care for Socially Vulnerable Groups

The so-called homeless tent village under the cloud bridge at Yongsan Station in Seoul. With news that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's office may be located near the Ministry of National Defense building, they showed signs of debate, wondering if they might have to move their residences. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "If they just tell us to leave, we'll leave... What power do we have?"

As the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul is being considered as a candidate site for President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's office, the real estate market in the Yongsan area is stirring. Meanwhile, homeless people living in a tent village behind Yongsan Station were trembling with anxiety over possible eviction orders.

While some are worrying about whether land prices will rise or not, the homeless living in tents among the high-rise apartments sighed deeply, concerned about their uncertain tomorrow.

On the 17th, the Yoon transition team announced that they had narrowed down the candidate sites for the presidential office to two locations: the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building and the annex of the Government Complex Seoul, which houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Presidential Transition Committee conducted on-site inspections of the two locations that day.

Upon hearing this news, a homeless man in his 50s struggled to speak for a while before finally saying, "If the president (referring to President-elect Yoon) comes here, we will have to leave, right?"

This homeless man, wearing bent glasses, repeatedly sighed deeply behind his mask, causing his glasses to fog up. His appearance seemed to reflect the suffocating feelings of a homeless person shrouded in fog. After saying this, he said no more. He hunched his shoulders further and fixed his gaze on the ground, remaining silent.

The area around the homeless tent village. It looks more like a tarp or a shack. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

The place where they gather is known as the "Yongsan Homeless Tent Village." Under the cloud bridge near Yongsan Station, there is a small forest, and in the vacant lot inside, about 20 tents are densely set up. In fact, they are closer to makeshift shelters than tents. It is known that homeless people began living here about 9 to 10 years ago in this densely wooded area.

To enter the homeless tent village, one must use a stone staircase next to the cloud bridge and enter through a narrow passage. There, tents that reach up to an adult's waist can be seen. Inside, various household items are arranged.

Next to the dense trees here, there are recyclable wastes sorted by type, such as plastics and cardboard boxes, seemingly intended to be sold to scrap dealers. On sunny days, blankets and other items are taken out and hung on strings tied between trees to dry. Cats, apparently raised by the homeless, roam around and greet outsiders.

A homeless man in his 40s whom we met here expressed disbelief upon hearing that President-elect Yoon's office might be located in the Ministry of National Defense building, saying, "Are they really coming here?" He briefly said, "If (President-elect Yoon) comes here and the homeless are forced to move elsewhere, we have no choice but to go," then went back into his tent and did not come out.

The homeless tent village can be accessed through a small path under the Yongsan Station skybridge. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

However, the concerns of the homeless may be premature. The location of President-elect Yoon's office has not yet been finalized, and no policies have been announced accordingly. Nevertheless, the distance between the homeless tent village and the Ministry of National Defense building is quite close. According to a portal site's distance calculation service, it is only a 27-minute walk. Along the way, there are five crosswalks, one underpass, and one staircase.

Ultimately, due to anticipated issues such as presidential security and protection, the homeless tent village issue is bound to surface immediately. Moreover, with the symbolic significance of the "Yongsan Presidential Office," the development of Yongsan Park and the Yongsan International Business District is expected to accelerate, potentially triggering various development projects, which is not welcome news for the homeless.

Currently, several projects are underway in the Yongsan area, including the International Business District development project, the creation of Yongsan Park (scheduled for completion in 2024), the extension of the Shinbundang Line connecting Yongsan Station and Sinsa Station, and the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) Line A (scheduled to open in 2026).

As expectations for the so-called "Yongsan Presidential Era" and development activation rise, positive forecasts about rising property prices in the area pour in. However, voices are emerging that measures are needed for those hidden behind this?voters and citizens who belong to the most vulnerable groups.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol holds a plaque ceremony with Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the transition committee, Kwon Young-se, the vice chairman, and other attendees at the transition committee office set up at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

A 30-something office worker, Mr. Kim, said, "I think the government will manage it well," adding, "I don't think we need to worry too much." Another office worker in his 50s, Mr. Park, said, "Isn't welfare and management for the homeless being handled well?" and added, "They probably won't just drive them out like in the 1980s. Besides, they can't do that anymore."

A self-employed man in his 40s, Mr. Choi, said, "There is always strong security around where the president is," and added, "If President-elect Yoon comes to Yongsan, I think there will be a large-scale cleanup not only of the homeless but of the entire area."

An expert emphasized consideration for the homeless. A welfare project official said, "Are there homeless people next to the Blue House?" and stressed, "Management for the homeless, who are the most vulnerable group, is necessary."

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