'Sangam Rebirth' Master Plan Kicks Off... Toward a Smart Media Hub

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to officially launch its 'Sangam Rebirth' project, aimed at transforming the Sangam-dong area into a hub for the smart media industry. This initiative, originally proposed by Mayor Oh Sehoon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May of last year, seeks to integrate the fragmented urban spaces in the Sangam area and strengthen connections between key sites.

On April 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has completed a comprehensive master plan for the Sangam area, encompassing the Digital Media City (DMC), World Cup Park, and the Han River, and will now begin full-scale implementation.

'Master Plan for Sangam Rebirth' Bird's-eye View. Seoul City

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Given that 'Sangam Rebirth' is a large-scale, long-term project, individual projects will be carried out in phases under the master plan. The first phase will focus on leading projects in the areas of the Oil Tank Culture Park and the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market.

In the Peace Park area, including the Oil Tank Culture Park and the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, a variety of approaches will be introduced for citizens and tourists by leveraging private sector expertise and creativity. In particular, the plan is to first create Sangam as a 'Fun City'?a space filled with diverse experiences?by revitalizing the Oil Tank Culture Park and developing the area around the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, connecting the Oil Tank Culture Park, World Cup Stadium, and Peace Park.

To this end, The Moon Entertainment, which proposed collaboration across various fields based on its experience in operating K-pop and Korean Wave broadcasting, performances, and global platforms, has been selected as the private operator for the tank spaces. The operator plans to present content with different concepts for each tank under the theme 'From Industrial Heritage to Culture, from Storage to Creation, from Sangam to the World.'

Private investment projects will also begin in the area around the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market and the Peace Park parking lot. To utilize private capital and incorporate creative business plans, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will promote a 'public-private partnership project' for mixed-use development. The city will first disclose available public land, and then invite creative business proposals from the private sector for these sites. Given the scale of the project in the Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market area, the city has decided to conduct further feasibility and business viability reviews based on the ideas developed in this master plan to ensure the successful promotion of the public-private partnership project.

In addition to these leading projects, the master plan also outlines mid- and long-term development directions for the Sangam area, such as restructuring infrastructure and introducing new transportation systems. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to proceed cautiously, gathering expert opinions and holding discussions through bodies such as the Urban Planning Committee, in line with its long-term vision. Lim Changsu, Director of Future Space Planning for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "The Sangam Rebirth master plan will be continuously supplemented through various mid- and long-term projects presented alongside the leading projects," and added, "We hope you look forward to Sangam's rebirth as a global creative city where daily life, cultural and tourism infrastructure, global business, and K-culture thrive."

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