Speeding Up Redevelopment Around Gwan-su-dong Next to Cheonggyecheon

Passed Seoul City Urban Planning Committee Subcommittee
Creation of Parks and Pedestrian Green Spaces, Improvement of Traffic Conditions

The underdeveloped area of Gwan-su-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, will be transformed into an urban commercial space equipped with cultural parks and more.

On the 28th, Seoul City held the 7th Urban Planning Committee Subcommittee and announced on the 29th that it had amended and approved the designation of the maintenance area and the landscape review plan for the ‘Urban Maintenance-type Redevelopment Project in the Gwan-su-dong Area’ containing these details.

The target site, around 107 Gwan-su-dong, is a 40,000㎡ general commercial area adjacent to Cheonggyecheon Stream. It has a high proportion of old and poor-quality buildings (78.7%) and wooden structures (68%), and most roads do not meet the minimum width of 6 meters required for fire truck access, leading to continuous demands for redevelopment zone designation.

The city plans to first secure a hub park and pedestrian green spaces in the Gwan-su-dong area to create a green urban environment. It will also widen existing road widths to improve traffic conditions and designate internal roads as pedestrian-priority streets to create pedestrian-friendly spaces. The main road width will be expanded from the current 6 meters to 12 meters, and other internal roads will be widened to 4?8 meters.

In this redevelopment project, the city will apply a small-unit and general maintenance-type approach rather than a demolition-centered, uniform general maintenance method. Considering the characteristics of commercial buildings and the status of new constructions, 24 districts where active maintenance is not possible will be designated as small-unit management districts and preservation districts.

Additionally, when integrated development (maintenance districts, management districts, etc.) occurs, a new floor area ratio incentive of up to 100% will be introduced to regularize the sites, and a 50% floor area ratio incentive will be established for creating viewing spaces along the Cheonggyecheon waterfront area.

The city stated, “The Gwan-su-dong area is expected to be reorganized into a space befitting the status of downtown Seoul.”

Area around 107 Gwansudong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seoul City

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