What Will Seongdong-gu Look Like in 20 Years?... Announcement of the '2040 Seongdong Urban Development Master Plan'

After about 4 years of service, expert consultation, and dozens of deliberations, the 'Seongdong-gu Future Blueprint' is completed... Strategy to Focus on Developing Four Core Spaces Leading Seongdong-gu's Future ① Wangsimni Current District Office Site as ‘Business-Town’ → Attracting Large Corporations, Strengthening Business, Commercial, and Distribution Functions ② Haengdang-dong Sowol Art Hall Site as ‘New Administrative-Town’ → Relocation of Seongdong-gu Office, District Council, Police Station, and Other Administrative Agencies ③ Deoksu High School Site, Haengdang Urban Development Area, Hanyang University as ‘Education-Town’ → Establishing a Representative Complex Educational and Cultural Facility in the Northeast Area ④ Sam...

5 Major Hub Development Plans

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) has announced the '2040 Seongdong Urban Development Master Plan Implementation Plan' (hereinafter referred to as the Master Plan), which outlines the future vision and development direction of the city that Seongdong-gu aims for over the next 20 years.

This Master Plan is a follow-up to the '2040 Seongdong Urban Development Master Plan' (Dec. 2019) and was conceived at the start of the 7th local government term. While maintaining and preserving the unique characteristics of each area in Seongdong-gu, it reflects the rapidly changing urban structure. Based on comprehensive policy reviews, it was refined over about four years through professional consulting, expert advice, and dozens of discussions and deliberations.

The core of this Master Plan is the strategy to select and focus on nurturing 'four major core spaces' that will lead Seongdong-gu's future. Reflecting the characteristics of each area, the core spaces are planned as follows: the current district office site will be developed as a ‘Business-Town’, and the Sowol Art Hall site as a ‘New Administrative-Town’.

Additionally, the Deoksu High School relocation site, Haengdang Urban Development Zone, and Hanyang University area will be developed as an ‘Education-Town’, while the Sampyo Remicon factory site will be developed as a ‘Culture & Tourism-Town’.

New Administrative Town Site Relocation Plan

Wangsimni Current District Office Site ‘Business-Town’: Attracting Large Corporations, Strengthening Business, Commercial, and Distribution Functions

First, the area around Wangsimni Station, where the current Seongdong District Office, Seongdong District Council, and Seongdong Police Station are concentrated, will be developed into a business and commercial-centered ‘Business-Town’.

Despite being a station-area general commercial zone where 50-story buildings are permitted, the Wangsimni area currently shows inefficient land use focused on public administrative functions and faces limitations in its role as a metropolitan hub due to the absence of related plans and development projects.

Recently, with the Wangsimni Station becoming a stop on the GTX-C line and the establishment of the Dongbuk Line light rail, the metropolitan transportation functions of the Wangsimni area are significantly expanding, increasing the need for complex development in the area.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu plans to relocate all administrative institutions such as the district office, district council, and police station, and expand commercial and office spaces on the site to attract companies.

The plan includes attracting companies such as venture firms in the 4th industrial sector, headquarters of large corporations, and sales and cultural startup support facilities to accelerate the strengthening of Wangsimni’s metropolitan hub functions.

New Administrative Town (Sowol Art Hall Site)

Haengdang-dong Sowol Art Hall Site ‘New Administrative-Town’: Relocation of District Office, District Council, Seongdong Police Station, and Other Administrative Institutions

Second, the Sowol Art Hall site in Haengdang-dong will be developed as a ‘New Administrative-Town’ to promote the complexification of administrative functions and strengthen public services.

Seongdong-gu plans to relocate the district office, district council, and police station to the current Sowol Art Hall location and create a ‘New Administrative-Town’ where administrative functions are concentrated, thereby improving the quality of public services and expanding convenience functions.

It is noted that no separate land acquisition costs will be incurred for the creation of the ‘New Administrative-Town’. Although ownership of the land varies among the administrative institutions to be relocated, land exchanges between national and public lands make this possible. Construction costs are also expected to be covered by the proceeds from the sale of the administrative town site land, with feasibility analysis confirming sufficient surplus.

Education Town (Deoksu High School Hanyang University Haengdang Urban Development Area)

Deoksu High School, Haengdang Urban Development Zone, Hanyang University ‘Education-Town’: Establishing a Representative Complex Education and Culture Facility in the Northeast Area

Third, the Deoksu High School relocation site, Haengdang Urban Development Zone, and Hanyang University area will be linked and developed as an ‘Education-Town’ symbolizing the education special zone of Seongdong.

First, Seongdong-gu will relocate the Seongdong District Library, Sowol Art Hall, Seongdong-Gwangjin Education Support Office, and Youth Training Center to the Haengdang Urban Development Zone, where the Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center is located, concentrating educational functions.

Deoksu High School, located in Haengdang-dong in front of Hanyang University, relocated its general academic department to the Bukwirye housing development area this year. The specialized departments will continue to operate until the 2023 academic year and will be fully integrated by 2024, after which the site will be used as a future education space.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu plans to develop the Deoksu High School relocation site and the nearby Hanyang University and Haengdang Urban Development Zone into an ‘Education-Town’, exploring utilization plans linked with existing educational infrastructure. By providing education, culture, and experiential opportunities for various age groups, the plan aims to develop the area into a representative complex education and culture facility in the northeast and a future educational hub of Seoul.

Creation of Landmarks Including Seoul Forest Waterside-Linked Complex Cultural Facilities

Sampyo Remicon Factory Site ‘Culture & Tourism-Town’: Landmark Development with Complex Cultural Facilities like an Opera House

Fourth, the area around the Sampyo Remicon Seongsu factory site will be developed as a ‘Culture & Tourism-Town’ by creating complex cultural facilities similar to an opera house, linked with Seoul Forest and waterfront areas.

The demolition of the Sampyo Remicon Seongsu factory, located at the confluence of Jungnangcheon Stream and the Han River, has been the biggest local wish in Seongdong-gu. After years of effort, the demolition groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 28, and the factory demolition is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.

The site is adjacent to Seongsu-dong, which has emerged as one of Seoul’s most active commercial areas, as well as Seoul Forest and the Han River, making it a highly promising location for development. Accordingly, Seongdong-gu has devised plans to utilize underused idle sites including the Sampyo Remicon factory site, the Seoul Forest equestrian training center, and the visitor center, linking them with local resources such as the Han River and Jungnangcheon Stream.

Specifically, the plan includes establishing complex cultural facilities like an opera house, a science future center for young people, various cultural facilities, global entertainment companies, and tourism landmarks to transform the area into a world-class attraction.

Seongdong-gu explained that once preliminary urban planning negotiations for the factory site development proceed, public contributions from development profits will sufficiently fund the necessary local facilities.

In addition, the district has selected Wangsimni metropolitan center, Seongsu regional center, Seoul Forest area, Water Reclamation Center area, and Geumho-Oksu district center as ‘five major hubs’, presenting development directions for each hub to secure future growth engines for Seongdong-gu and promote balanced development across regions.

Mayor Jeong Won-oh of Seongdong-gu emphasized, “The establishment of this Master Plan creates a springboard for Seongdong-gu to soar beyond ‘Mayongseong’ and ‘Top 5’ to become the best autonomous district in Seoul. Just as Seongdong-gu has achieved remarkable urban growth over the past years, we will continue to strengthen growth engines to lead balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk areas and become the most livable and sustainable city.”

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