Mapo District Wins Eviction Lawsuit Against Mapo Nursing Hospital... Moves Forward with Welfare Town for People with Disabilities

Court Rules in Favor of Mapo District
Park Kangsu Pledges to Build Welfare Town for People with Disabilities

Mapo District in Seoul (District Mayor Park Kangsu) has concluded its legal dispute with Mapo Nursing Hospital and will proceed with the construction of a welfare town for people with disabilities. On December 11, Mapo District announced that it had won a civil eviction lawsuit filed against Mapo Nursing Hospital. As a result of this ruling, the hospital can no longer occupy the building.

Exterior view of the current Mapo Nursing Hospital, housed in the former Mapo District Council building. Provided by Mapo District.

Since April 2019, Mapo Nursing Hospital has been using the former Mapo District Council building (128 Seongsan-ro). Although the permit to use the building expired in March last year, the hospital refused to vacate, claiming there had been a promise of a five-year extension. The district office requested the hospital to vacate the premises six times since September 2023, but the hospital did not comply.

The hospital filed for an administrative appeal and an administrative lawsuit, but lost both cases. In July last year, the Seoul Administrative Appeals Commission dismissed the appeal, and in August this year, the Seoul Administrative Court also ruled in favor of the district. The court stated, "There was no official public statement promising an additional extension, and the possibility of changing the building's use for public purposes was clearly stated in the bid notice," adding, "The construction of the welfare town for people with disabilities serves a significant public interest."

Mapo District currently has less welfare infrastructure for people with disabilities compared to the Seoul average. Due to restrictions on the usage period for the Mapo Cerebral Palsy Vision Center and the Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities, securing alternative spaces became urgent. In October, more than 12,000 residents and disability organizations submitted a statement to the district office, urging the construction of the welfare town for people with disabilities.

The welfare town will include a day-care center for people with disabilities, a cultural creation space, a vocational training center, and a sports center.

Park Kangsu, Mayor of Mapo District, stated, "All legal rulings, including the administrative appeal, the administrative lawsuit, and today's eviction lawsuit, have confirmed the legitimacy of Mapo District's position. We will correct the wrongful actions of Mapo Nursing Hospital, which has been unlawfully occupying public property for private gain, and the district will work to organically connect the existing Mapo Welfare Center for the Disabled with the new welfare town to enhance welfare services for people with disabilities."

Perspective view of Mapo Disabled Welfare Town promoted by Mapo District. Provided by Mapo District.

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