Kim Mikyung, Eunpyeong District Mayor, Opposes Oh Sehoon’s Seoul Innovation Park 'Multi-Generational Coexistence Rental Housing' Construction

Kim Mikyung, Eunpyeong District Mayor, Emphasizes "Seoul Innovation Park Must Be Developed as a New Economic Growth Engine Cluster for Balanced Development in Gangbuk"

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Kim Mi-kyung, the mayor of Eunpyeong District, emphasized the “need for communication and consultation with Seoul City” regarding recent media reports that Seoul City plans to supply ‘multi-generational coexistence rental housing’ on the site of Seoul Innovation Park in Eunpyeong.

It appears she expressed opposition to Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s plan to build rental housing.

Seoul Innovation Park is a social innovation cluster where about 230 organizations are currently located. Seoul City purchased the former Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site (110,234㎡) near Bulgwang Station on Line 3 in 2015.

Since Mayor Oh Se-hoon took office, Seoul City has been conducting a ‘Basic Plan Establishment Project for the Utilization of Seoul Innovation Park Site’ with the goal of creating a ‘new living economy hub in the northwest area.’

In response, Eunpyeong District proposed a development plan to Seoul City to transform Seoul Innovation Park into a northwest landmark equipped with economic revitalization facilities such as commercial, business, and shopping areas, attract Fourth Industrial Revolution companies, establish a campus for the University of Seoul, and provide hub-type welfare functions (libraries, welfare centers, complex cultural facilities), parks, and rest areas for residents’ convenience.

Seoul City also stated in an interim report of the project that it would reflect Eunpyeong District’s development plan and develop the area into a landmark representing Gangbuk, including economic, cultural, educational, and welfare facilities.

However, according to recent media reports, Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited Kampung Admiralty, a Singaporean silver town, and announced plans to create a ‘multi-generational coexistence’ housing complex in Seoul Innovation Park where parents and married children live separately but close to each other. Residents of Eunpyeong, who had no prior information, are expressing serious concerns.

Eunpyeong District has a large population but low financial independence and lacks economic infrastructure such as large corporations and major convention centers. Residents have shown great interest in the development plan for Seoul Innovation Park, the only large-scale site available for commercial development. Last November, when Kim Heon-dong, president of SH Corporation, unilaterally mentioned building public housing on the Innovation Park site, many residents already expressed concerns.

An official from Eunpyeong District expressed regret that there was no prior communication and consultation with residents considering local sentiment regarding the supply of housing for seniors who require social care, and raised doubts about whether the introduction of multi-generational coexistence public rental housing is institutionally feasible.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung raised her voice, saying, “Seoul Innovation Park is the only optimal site for balanced development in Gangbuk that Seoul City and Eunpyeong District have been continuously considering. It should be developed as a growth engine cluster as planned in cooperation with Seoul City.” She added, “Since Seoul citizens are also Eunpyeong residents and vice versa, the project should proceed without conflict through prior communication and consultation with Eunpyeong District.”

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