Housing Crisis: What Seoul Needs Is a Redesign of the Supply System

When looking at the numbers, the challenges faced by married couples trying to find a home in Seoul seem overwhelming. Last year, there were 240,000 marriages across the country. In Seoul alone, 49,374 couples registered their marriages over the course of the year. This means that more than 4,000 new households were formed in Seoul every month. However, the housing market’s response to these newlyweds hoping to settle down in Seoul is harsh. The housing supply rate in Seoul stands at 93.9% as of 2024, the lowest among all cities and provinces nationwide. With 4,159,500 households and only 3,907,600 housing units, Seoul faces a shortage of more than 250,000 homes. A 100% housing supply rate would mean that every household has a home, so structurally, Seoul currently lacks homes for 250,000 households. The Seoul Metropolitan Government disputes this figure. It argues that if 265,000 officetel units used for residential purposes are included in the housing count, Seoul’s actual housing su

2026.04.13 12:20

Seoul’s Dilemma: The ‘Private Urban Complex Development’

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is facing a dilemma over a new system. This is because the privately-led Urban Complex Development Project (Minbok), set to be fully implemented from June 2026, is showing signs of disrupting the existing urban redevelopment landscape. Minbok is based on the “Act on Support for Urban Complex Development,” which was enacted in February 2024. In January, the Seoul Metropolitan Government promulgated the relevant ordinance, completing preparations for implementation. Minbok is divided into two types: growth hub-oriented and residential-oriented. The growth hub-oriented type has already been brought to the forefront as the core means of the “Gangbuk Renaissance 2.0” project, which Mayor Oh Sehoon of Seoul announced on February 19. The issue lies with the residential-oriented type. This system upgrades aging areas within 500 meters of subway stations to quasi-residential zones and raises the base floor area ratio (FAR) to up to 1.4 times the legal maximum,

2026.03.16 17:02

The Threat That "If the Mayor Changes, Moa Town Will Disappear"

Recently, strange rumors have been circulating in aging low-rise residential areas across Seoul. The talk is that "if the mayor of Seoul changes in the June 3 local elections, all Moa Town projects will disappear." This is a story openly spreading among some redevelopment firms, contractors, and promotion committee members. Their intention to rush residents into signing consent forms by saying "if you do not do it now, you will lose your chance" is all too obvious. Some cases are even more blatant. They try to get residents to stamp their seals directly on construction and service contracts. Saying "if you do not do it now, you will lose your chance; the district designation must be secured before the election," they pressure residents to hurry into selecting companies even before properly reviewing the business feasibility. Some firms mislead residents by claiming, "You must sign with us first to gain an advantage in getting the district designated." Their scheme to use the election t

2026.02.11 09:35

Who Will Fill the Growing Number of Offices in Seoul?

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the central government are at odds over the scale of housing supply in the Yongsan International Business District (YIBD). While they are in a tug-of-war over whether to supply 6,000, 8,000, or more than 10,000 units, another key issue is being overlooked. As plans for high-rise office buildings in downtown Seoul continue to emerge, no one is asking how all of these spaces will be filled. This is not limited to YIBD. Simultaneous development is underway in the Sewoon District, Seosomun, and the northern Seoul Station area. The redevelopment of the Yongsan Electronics Market area is also gaining momentum. Commercial real estate research firm RSQUARE estimates that from 2027 to 2031, a total of 7.6 million square meters (2.3 million pyeong) of office space will be supplied in Seoul. This is comparable to the 7.97 million square meters (2.41 million pyeong) supplied between 2009 and 2014, when office space rapidly increased due to developments like Pa

2026.01.12 10:05

From the Hangang Bus and DDP to Jongmyo and the "Present Arms" Monument

There is a consistent pattern in Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon's development policies. Grand narratives emerge, projects are pushed forward without sufficient discussion, and controversies intensify. In the process, social conflicts are amplified. Another characteristic is that budgets balloon far beyond initial projections. Looking at the controversies surrounding the Hangang Bus, the Sewoon Green Axis, and the Garden of Gratitude, this pattern has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years. On September 18 of this year, the Hangang Bus began operations. The stated purpose was to provide "commuter water public transportation." The reality was different. On the very first day, there was a restroom malfunction; after only three days, operations were suspended. Following a month of trial runs with no passengers, the service resumed, only for another incident to occur when a boat ran aground on the riverbed. It took 2 hours and 7 minutes to travel from Magok to Jamsil. The Hangang Bus, which was supp

2025.12.01 12:05

Should Meetings Between the Seoul Mayor and District Mayors Also Be Made Public?

The live broadcast of the President's Cabinet Meeting was a historic measure first attempted during the 33rd Cabinet Meeting presided over by President Lee Jaemyung on July 29. On that day, the Cabinet Meeting was broadcast live to the public through the KTV channel and YouTube, covering everything from the entrance of the Cabinet members and the introduction of new Cabinet members to the President's opening remarks and in-depth discussions. President Lee stated that he would pursue a plan to disclose as much of the Cabinet Meeting as possible, without omission or alteration, to expand the public's right to know and ensure transparent governance. He also announced plans to increase both the frequency and scope of public disclosure for Cabinet Meetings concerning socially significant issues in the future, making it a matter worth following closely. Interest leads to engagement. Interest can develop into concrete action and participation. Those who are interested often feel a sense of re

2025.08.11 12:40

Mastering Administration Through Effective Benchmarking

A district office awarded an exemplary public servant prize to an employee who proposed an idea related to a "Single-Person Household Well-being Monitoring System." This system automatically checks on the well-being of welfare recipients by utilizing phone call records, mobile applications, door sensors, and electricity usage sensors. By leveraging this system, which was developed by the private sector, it is possible to see positive effects in various areas, such as preventing solitary deaths and responding to emergencies among vulnerable groups like elderly people or individuals with disabilities who live alone. The system flags certain individuals, prompting officials to call them, and if there is no answer, a public servant visits in person to check for any accidents or problems. Since other local governments had previously introduced similar systems, I asked about it. The district office responded, "If residents need it, we actively encourage the discovery and adoption of benchmar

2025.07.07 10:49

Isn't Establishing a Public Postpartum Care Center in Our Neighborhood an Urgent Priority?

Dog playgrounds for pet owners and park golf courses for seniors are both valuable. However, should the establishment of public postpartum care centers for mothers and newborns be pushed down the list of priorities? Giving birth in Seoul is both a blessing and a burden. For mothers and newborns, a postpartum care center is an essential stop after childbirth. Yet, out of Seoul's 25 districts, there are only two public postpartum care centers: one in Songpa-gu and one in Seodaemun-gu. Mothers in the remaining 23 districts must rely solely on private postpartum care centers or compete fiercely for reservations at the limited public facilities, whether through online clicks or lotteries. If everyone had deep pockets, there would be no need for further discussion. However, the average cost for a standard room at a private postpartum care center in Seoul for two weeks is 4.78 million won, and for a deluxe room, the average is 7.64 million won. In reality, users feel the financial burden even

2025.06.02 10:28

Reflecting on Yi Sun-sin Once Again

After Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the street once known as Honmachi-dori (本町通, Bonjeongtong) was given a new name: Chungmuro, derived from Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s posthumous title, “Chungmu.” Geoncheon-dong (now Inhyeon-dong), where Admiral Yi was born and spent part of his childhood and youth, was nearby. At the relatively late age of thirty-two, he passed the military examination at the Training Center (now Training Center Park), received an official post, and began his career. The Jonggak area was the starting point for his journey as a rank-and-file soldier. In 1946, Kim Hyeongmin, who had just taken office as the first Mayor of Seoul, formed a street-naming committee immediately after his inauguration. He replaced Japanese-style street and place names with Korean ones. Hwanggeumjeongtong (黃金町通) became Euljiro, and Showatong (昭和通) became Toegye-ro. During this period, names such as Chungmuro, Sejong-ro, Chungjeong-ro, and Wonhyo-ro were also introduced. During the

2025.04.30 10:10

AI, Seoul Should Follow Zhejiang's Example Too

Three hundred thousand civil servants in Zhejiang Province, China, have started intensive AI learning. Zhejiang Province is home to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that has amazed the world. DeepSeek's achievements, which have humbled the US that once regarded AI as its exclusive domain, are not just the work of startups. Zhejiang's population exceeds 56 million, more than that of South Korea. Zhejiang University, representing the province, stands shoulder to shoulder with China's top prestigious universities such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Moreover, 300,000 civil servants in Zhejiang Province are undergoing four months of online and offline training. The training features top experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from China's AI industry. According to the Chinese state-run Global Times, these experts are imparting AI knowledge and DeepSeek utilization methods. Such an initiative would be unimaginable in many other countries. The so-call

2025.03.24 10:12