Seongbuk-gu Wolgok Complex Cultural and Sports Center Groundbreaking... Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, and More

[Seoul District News] Seongbuk-gu to Build Wolgok Complex Cultural and Sports Center with 3 Underground and 4 Above-Ground Floors at Current Wolgok Cleaning Garage... Creating a Sports Hub Space for Everyone to Freely Enjoy Various Sports Activities in Daily Life... Seongdong-gu Expands Commercial Lease Dispute Counseling from Twice Monthly to Weekly on Thursdays Starting 2023 & Holds 'Visiting Commercial Building Lease Dispute Mediation Committee' in Cooperation with Seoul City for One-Stop Dispute Resolution Between Parties

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has resolved another long-standing resident request through its on-site mayor’s office.

On the 21st, Seongbuk-gu held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Wolgok Complex Culture and Sports Center, a long-awaited project by Wolgok-dong residents, on the site of the current Wolgok garbage truck depot. The Wolgok Complex Culture and Sports Center, to be built on Hwarang-ro 49 in Seongbuk-gu, is expected to become a representative sports hub where local residents in the Wolgok-dong area, which lacks public sports facilities, can enjoy various sports activities.

Above all, the Wolgok garbage truck depot had long been a source of complaints from residents due to surrounding odors, noise, and aesthetic degradation. Through the on-site mayor’s office, which Seongbuk-gu has been actively promoting from the 7th to the 8th term of the elected administration, Mayor Lee Seung-ro and related district officials, along with residents, directly collaborated to seek solutions, marking a successful case of proactive administration.

The Wolgok Complex Culture and Sports Center is scheduled to open in the first half of 2025. It will be constructed on a site area of 2,190㎡ with a total floor area of 7,911㎡, consisting of three underground floors and four above-ground floors. The underground floors will house the existing garbage truck depot and a mechanical parking lot, while the above-ground floors will include sports facilities such as a swimming pool, a multipurpose gymnasium, a fitness center, and a GX room.

Kim * Han (51), a Wolgok-dong resident who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, said, “The transformation of the Wolgok garbage truck depot, which had issues with odor, noise, and negative aesthetics, has been a long-standing concern and inconvenience for Wolgok-dong residents. Through the on-site mayor’s office, the Seongbuk-gu mayor and residents openly discussed solutions, and now that the first shovel has been turned, I feel deeply moved.” He added, “There were no notable sports and cultural facilities nearby, so the thirst for such amenities was great. All residents welcome the plan to build a state-of-the-art comprehensive sports facility.”

Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “This achievement was made not by unilateral demands but by residents who communicated with the administration over a long period and sought solutions together. We will do our best to improve the quality of life for local residents and make this a new landmark in Seongbuk-gu where generations can enjoy together.”

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will expand the operation of its commercial lease consultation office, the first of its kind among autonomous districts nationwide, to once a week starting next year to prevent commercial lease disputes and create a stable business environment for tenants.

Since August, Seongdong-gu has been operating the commercial lease consultation office on the 7th floor of the Seongdong Safety Commercial Building in Seongsu-dong every second and fourth Thursday from 3 PM to 5 PM, conducting a total of 63 consultations to date.

The main consultation topics include ▲contract renewal ▲rent increase ▲eviction demands ▲key money recovery ▲damages, with professional counselors providing advice and also guiding clients on commercial lease laws.

A satisfaction survey conducted by the district showed that all respondents found the consultations helpful in resolving their issues, but some expressed difficulty in accessing consultations due to the infrequent schedule. In response, Seongdong-gu plans to expand the consultation schedule to once a week every Thursday starting January 2023 for the convenience of residents.

Those wishing to receive consultations can apply by searching for ‘commercial lease’ on the Seongdong-gu website or by calling the Sustainable Development Division. In addition to lease-related consultations, tax consultations on comprehensive income tax, business registration, and business closure are also provided once a month.

Furthermore, in cooperation with Seoul City, the district supports the ‘Visiting Commercial Lease Dispute Mediation Committee,’ composed of lawyers, appraisers, and architects, to mediate disputes that cannot be resolved through consultations alone. Mediation agreements accepted by both parties have the same enforceability as court judgments, greatly helping reduce time and costs for dispute parties.

Mayor Jung Won-oh stated, “Through the expanded operation of the commercial lease consultation office, we hope to smoothly resolve commercial lease disputes and foster a consensus for win-win cooperation between tenants and landlords.”

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