A Han River Observatory to Be Built in Dongjak District, Seoul

A Cultural Hub Featuring an Observatory and Convention Center
Basic Agreement Signed with Korea Trust Consortium

Dongjak District in Seoul (Mayor Park Ilha) plans to transform the Bondong area into a world-class cultural space on par with the Greenwich Observatory in the United Kingdom.

On April 28, Dongjak District announced that it had signed a basic agreement with the Korea Trust consortium on the 27th to secure momentum for the Bondong area landmark development project. The core of the project is to establish high-quality cultural hubs, including an observatory.

Bird's-eye view of the iconic site development project in the Bondong area. Provided by Dongjak-gu.

Previously, in January of this year, the district signed an agreement with the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK to attract a branch to Sadang-dong, laying the groundwork for its leap as a global K-city. Through this project, the district aims to develop Bondong into a cultural landmark that attracts visitors from around the world, similar to the Greenwich Observatory.

The project site covers 38,980 square meters spanning Bondong 8-12. The area, which has long comprised aging low-rise residential buildings and idle state- and publicly-owned land, has been cited as needing systematic development. After laying the foundation through urban regeneration projects and official announcements on urban planning facilities (such as youth training centers), the district will now begin full-scale development with the launch of this project.

The Korea Trust consortium selected for the project consists of five companies: Korea Trust, POSCO E&C, The Aether, Kart, and P&Y Partners Limited. The consortium is considered to have strong competitiveness across all areas, including development, finance, and construction.

The agreement includes changing the land use designation from first-class residential area to second-class residential area and developing lifestyle SOC facilities such as an observatory, a convention center, and a library. Improvement of the access road to Yongyangbongjeojeong Neighborhood Park is also planned. Upon completion, the Bondong area is expected to become a cultural axis connecting the National Museum of Korea and Nodeul Island, reborn as a complex cultural hub that blends exhibition, performance, and leisure functions.

Park Ilha, Mayor of Dongjak District, said, "This project will go beyond mere renovation and become a turning point that completely transforms the spatial value of Bondong. We will leverage its prime location along the Han River to create a mixed-use living area that integrates residential, cultural, and leisure functions, and establish Bondong as a representative waterfront landmark of Dongjak."

Ilha Park, Mayor of Dongjak District (center), is posing for a commemorative photo with Soonyoung Hong, CEO of The Æther (left), and Munsu Byun, CEO of Korea Trust (right), at the Basic Agreement Ceremony for the Bondong Area Landmark Project held at Dongjak District Office on the 27th. Provided by Dongjak District.

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