Gwanak-gu, Leap Toward a Future Advanced City Alongside the Seonam District Major Renovation Plan

Revolutionary Changes with Advanced Industry-Centered 'Industrial Innovation', Proximity Living 'Residential Innovation', and Added 'Green Appeal'
Accelerating Gwanak S-Valley Development, Moa Town Promotion, and Restoration of Ecological Streams Byeolbitnaerincheon (Dorimcheon) and Bongcheoncheon

Gwanak S Valley Venture Startup Hub Aerial View Rendering

The southwestern region of Seoul is beginning its transformation into a future-oriented advanced city where work (職), residence (住), and leisure (樂) harmoniously coexist.

A new wave of innovation is also expected to sweep through Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee).

On the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the 'Southwestern Region Grand Renovation Plan' as a signal to strengthen urban competitiveness through a major urban overhaul. The plan aims to actively leverage the development potential of the southwestern region to establish a new paradigm of urban innovation.

The southwestern region was a center of consumption and manufacturing industries in the 1960s and 1970s, leading modernization and industrialization and driving national growth. However, due to policies relocating factories from the metropolitan area and changes in industrial structure, its growth foundation has gradually weakened and the area has become outdated.

Nonetheless, the southwestern region has many available sites and excellent transportation infrastructure, such as the metropolitan express railway connecting to nearby new towns. Considering the already established advanced industrial ecosystem and the fact that 33% of Seoul’s youth reside there, the area has significant growth potential.

Accordingly, Seoul plans to transform the manufacturing-centered spaces of the southwestern region into hubs for future advanced and convergence industries through this grand renovation. Aging residential areas will be redeveloped into living environments combining work, residence, and leisure with green sensibilities including leisure and culture, aiming to restore past glory and prepare for Seoul’s new future.

The main announcements of this southwestern region grand renovation are industrial innovation, residential space innovation, and a ‘new economy and new lifestyle central city’ enhanced with green appeal.

‘Industrial innovation’ involves developing large-scale underutilized sites located at the junction of Seoul and adjacent metropolitan cities into gateway hubs for Seoul and co-growth centers for the southwestern metropolitan area.

In line with this, Gwanak-gu will accelerate the creation of the ‘Gwanak S Valley’ venture startup hub space, which the district has been prioritizing.

Plans include establishing an AI (Artificial Intelligence) research cluster and startup support facilities around Nakseongdae to become a new startup cluster connecting Gangnam’s Teheran-ro and Guro’s G Valley, creating an industry-academia-research venture startup hub.

The district plans to prepare a development plan starting this year and commence the project with a feasibility study in 2025.

‘Residential innovation’ aims to activate housing redevelopment by introducing various incentives such as a 400% floor area ratio for apartment complexes to complete a rich living environment where work and residence are closely connected. Furthermore, it seeks to lead lifestyle innovation for residents through the creation of new residential environments.

The district will ensure the smooth progress of the Moa Housing project to improve low-rise residential areas and expedite redevelopment in densely populated multi-family and multi-household areas. Systematic administrative support will continue through public-led ‘on-site support teams’ that enhance residents’ understanding and mediate conflicts, as well as public management pilot projects involving SH Corporation.

Currently, Gwanak-gu is advancing a total of 58 redevelopment projects. Among them, four Moa Town projects are underway, implementing management plan studies and actively working to improve residential environments in low-rise residential areas where full-scale development is difficult.

Bird's-eye View of Bongcheoncheon Ecological Stream Restoration

‘Green appeal’ involves creating a green-sensibility city by expanding waterways and green paths through ecological stream restoration and waterfront park development.

To ensure convenient access to green spaces throughout the region, the plan includes expanding pedestrian and green networks connecting parks and waterfront hubs, and securing open green spaces by offering various incentives to the private sector during large-scale redevelopment projects.

Gwanak-gu is currently promoting ecological stream restoration projects for Byeolbitnaerincheon (Dorimcheon) and Bongcheoncheon. This year, Byeolbitnaerincheon is being developed as a specialized space to improve waterfront infrastructure, and a management plan to revitalize the waterfront space of Bongcheoncheon will be prepared. Additionally, the district plans to establish the ‘Gwanak Green Network and Pedestrian Green Axis Plan’ to build a specialized green community foundation through green network construction.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee emphasized, “The southwestern region grand renovation has given strong momentum to our district’s key projects for residents,” and added, “Please look forward to Gwanak’s future, which will undergo revolutionary changes in economy, transportation, housing, and living environment without leaving anything behind.”

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