[Report] "Spacious Pantry but Disappointing Details"... A Visit to the 2.8 Billion Won Standard Acro River Sky

Acro River Sky Launches Sales

Circular Pantry Layout and Ample Storage Draw Attention

Concerns Remain Over Bathroom and Balcony Design

High Pre-Sale Price, but Subscription Popularity in Focus

"The layout, which allows two-way access to the pantry from both the kitchen and the living room corridor, is quite impressive. However, preferences may be divided depending on individual lifestyles," said Ms. Lee, a 49-year-old resident of Mapo-gu.

'Acro River Sky,' the second project to be offered for sale in Seoul's Noryangjin New Town, opened its model house on May 15 and officially began preparations for sales. Despite controversy over the high pre-sale price, with the maximum price for the standard 84㎡ unit approaching 2.8 billion won, market attention is focused on whether it will sell out, thanks to its accessibility to the Yeouido business district and the application of DL E&C’s high-end brand ‘Acro’.

On the 15th, a model of the complex is displayed at the Acro River Sky sales office in Dogok-dong, Seoul. Photo by Lee Jieun

Acro River Sky is a redevelopment of Zone 8 in Noryangjin. The complex will consist of 10 buildings, 29 floors above ground and 4 floors underground, with a total of 987 units ranging from 36㎡ to 140㎡ in exclusive area. Of these, 285 units will be available for general sale.

Even late in the afternoon on May 15, visitors continued to arrive at the model house newly opened in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu. The displayed models included the 59㎡ Type A with a four-bay flat layout and the 84㎡ Type B with a tower layout. The interiors were crowded with people eager to view the room configurations. Most visitors were middle-aged or older, in their 40s and 50s, including members from other Noryangjin New Town associations such as Zone 6, which has already started sales, and Zone 2, which is scheduled for sale in June.

Spacious Pantry Draws Attention... Balcony Steps and Dry Bathroom Design Raise Concerns

Visitors who toured the two types that day cited the generous storage space and sense of openness as key strengths. The 84㎡ Type B features double open windows in both the living room and kitchen for ample natural light, and a tray ceiling design to enhance openness. The master bedroom is placed at the far end near the entrance, instead of next to the living room, with the kitchen and living room facing each other in a straight line, effectively separating the sleeping and living spaces.

The 84㎡ Type B living room at the Acro River Sky model house in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, on the 15th. Photo by Lee Jieun

Additionally, the interior is designed with a circular layout that allows entry to the pantry from both the kitchen and the entrance corridor, prioritizing efficient movement flow and maximizing storage space. The 59㎡ Type A is also equipped with an entrance pantry and a dressing room, providing ample storage compared to other units of similar size.

Reactions to this layout were mixed among visitors. Mr. Kim, a 45-year-old resident of Yangcheon-gu in Seoul, commented, "The fact that you can access the pantry from both the kitchen and the bedroom corridor is convenient, and the generous storage space makes housekeeping seem easier." On the other hand, some pointed out that the spacious pantry made the living area feel cramped. Ms. Lee, 49, from Mapo-gu, remarked, "Because the pantry space is excessively large, the living room feels relatively small."

On the 15th, an 84㎡ B-type pantry was set up in the model home of Acro River Sky in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu. It is designed with a circular layout that allows two-way access from both the kitchen and the bedroom hallway. Photo by Lee Ji-eun

Some visitors also expressed disappointment that in both types, the washbasin is installed in an external powder room rather than inside the bathroom. While a sales representative explained, "Having the washbasin outside the bathroom allows for use as a dry bathroom," concerns were raised that this reduces the powder room space and could cause water to splash inside the bedroom.

Ms. Yang, a 41-year-old resident of Dongjak-gu, said, "Instead of a washbasin in the bathroom, there is one in the facing powder room, so for those who need storage for cosmetics, this might be a downside." Other feedback included that in the 84㎡ Type B, a difference in floor height between the open balcony and the master bedroom makes entering the balcony inconvenient and makes it difficult to install a laundry drying rack, among other design drawbacks.

On the 15th, the 84㎡ Type A powder and dressing room and the open balcony of the master bedroom at the Acro River Sky model house in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu. Photo by Lee Jieun

High Pre-Sale Price and Limited Unit Sizes... Will Subscriptions Succeed?

Nevertheless, many in the market expect high demand for subscriptions, given Noryangjin's location and the brand value of the high-end Acro series. The complex is within walking distance of Noryangjin Station (Subway Lines 1 and 9), Jangseungbaegi Station, and Daebang Station, allowing access to Yeouido Station, City Hall Station, and other three major business districts in Seoul in under ten minutes. Furthermore, the complex is adjacent to Yeonghwa Elementary School, making it a desirable "chopuma" (apartment adjacent to a top elementary school). Additionally, the recently launched La Classe Jade Pine achieved near sell-out with 367 out of 369 general sale units contracted, leading to expectations of similarly strong demand here.

However, the high pre-sale price remains a key variable. The price for the 84㎡ units at Acro River Sky ranges from a minimum of 2,499.2 million won to a maximum of 2,795.8 million won. The 59㎡ units are priced between 2,021 million won and 2,179.4 million won. This is roughly 200 million won more expensive than the highest price (2,585.1 million won) at La Classe Jade Pine, the first major project in Noryangjin New Town.

The limited selection of unit sizes is another concern. For example, the 84㎡ Type A at Acro River Sky features a spacious dining area and a kitchen and living room designed for cross-ventilation, offering a greater sense of openness than the 84㎡ Type B. However, most 84㎡ Type A units are allocated to association members, and general buyers are only able to choose units on the 7th floor or below. To select a higher floor (8th floor or above) in the general sale, buyers must opt for either the 84㎡ Type B or Type C.

The sales schedule is as follows: special supply begins on the 26th, first-round priority for local residents on the 27th, first-round priority for other regions on the 28th, and second-round on the 29th. Winners will be announced on the 5th of the following month, and contracts will be signed over a five-day period starting from the 20th. Move-in is scheduled for August 2029.

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