Seoripul District Faces Setback Due to Resident Opposition... Greenbelt Housing Supply Policy Put to the Test

Ministry Aims to Designate District in January Next Year
Ongoing Conflict May Affect Future Projects

The Seoripul District development project, which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport launched with the promise of supplying housing even by lifting greenbelt restrictions, has met fierce opposition from local residents. The ministry is considering lifting greenbelt restrictions in various regions, starting with the Seoripul District. Observers say that how this conflict is resolved will serve as a barometer of the government's capabilities.

The public hearing on the draft strategic environmental impact assessment for Seoripul District 2, held by Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) on the 24th, was canceled due to resident opposition. This comes just a month and a half after a previous resident briefing session was also canceled on October 1.

Kim Yoonduk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited the Seoripul Public Housing District site in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 5th to review the project implementation plans with officials. Photo by Yonhap News

On that day, residents and believers of Umyundong Cathedral in the district continued their protest with picket signs against compulsory land expropriation and recited prayers. They announced that if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designates and officially announces the district in January next year without separate consultations, they will pursue legal action, including lawsuits to revoke administrative measures. Baek Uncheol, parish priest of Umyundong Cathedral, stated in a declaration, "Since the announcement of the development plan, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have been pushing ahead with the process without any official opportunity to hear residents' opinions," adding, "There can be no compromise other than preserving the cathedral and the village."

The Seoripul District was selected as a candidate site for new residential land in November last year by the previous administration to supply housing in the Seoul metropolitan area. The district is divided into District 1, spanning Wonji-dong and Naegok-dong in Seocho-gu, and District 2, covering Umyundong. The government plans to supply 20,000 apartment units in this area.

Currently, residents are expressing strong opposition to the development, demanding the protection of their property rights and the preservation of their villages. In District 2, residents of Songdong Village, Sikyuchon Village, and Umyundong Cathedral, which form a close-knit community, are calling for preservation rather than development. In contrast, residents of District 1 are protesting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's push to designate the district without first presenting relocation plans or compensation proposals.

Believers of Umyundong Cathedral and village residents are reading a statement opposing the development at the public hearing for Seoripul District 2 held on the 24th at the Yangjae AT Center in Seocho-gu. Photo by Lee Jieun

Whether the ministry can resolve this conflict is expected to affect subsequent projects as well. The ministry is searching for additional idle urban sites and greenbelt candidates to expand housing supply. Notably, sites such as Taereung Golf Course in Nowon-gu and the Seobu Driver's License Test Center in Mapo, which are being considered as idle land and greenbelt release candidates, faced resident opposition and were ultimately scrapped during the Moon Jae-in administration.

However, from the ministry's perspective, which must address instability in housing supply, there is a possibility that the pace will accelerate as long as there are no legal issues. A recent revision to the Special Act on Public Housing, which allows project implementers to conduct property surveys for land acquisition before district designation, has passed the National Assembly's plenary session. The timeline for designating the Seoripul District has also been moved up twice, from "the first half of next year" to "March of the same year," and then again to "January."

Experts have pointed out that lifting greenbelt restrictions without resident consensus could intensify social conflict. Seo Jinhyung, professor of real estate law at Kwangwoon University, said, "Even when the government pursues public development for the sake of public interest, sufficient dialogue and consultation must be a prerequisite. If the government simply lifts greenbelt restrictions without achieving social consensus, approaching the issue with a 'greenbelt panacea' mindset, it could actually deepen conflicts within the community rather than solve the supply problem."

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