The Seoul Metropolitan Government has expressed its opposition to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's housing supply measures, following its previous stance on green belt preservation, and this time, on the utilization of Yongsan Park. On the 4th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a plan to supply 250,000 housing units in the metropolitan area by 2025, including 100,000 in Seoul, through a 'Housing Supply Innovation Plan'. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its opposition to the plan, stating that it is 'difficult to accept' the central government's measures. The Seoul Metropolitan Government pointed out that the housing supply measures announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport focus on 'development' rather than 'stimulation of supply'. The government plans to promote the development of 30,000 housing units in Yongsan Park, which is currently under construction, and to redevelop 16 areas, including the Yongsan Electronics Market and the Ichon-dong area near the Hangang River, in addition to the existing 4 areas. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expressed concerns that the development of Yongsan Park and the redevelopment of the 16 areas will lead to an increase in the number of high-rise buildings, resulting in increased traffic and environmental problems. In particular, the Seoul Metropolitan Government emphasized that Yongsan Park is a 'symbol of the city's history and a resting place for citizens', and that it is necessary to preserve it as a 'green space' rather than developing it as a housing site. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also expressed concerns that the redevelopment of the 16 areas will lead to gentrification and displacement of small businesses and residents. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to submit its opinions to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and to actively participate in the discussion on the housing supply plan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to finalize the housing supply plan by the end of this month after taking into account the opinions of local governments, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Following the government's "8·13 Housing Rapid Supply Plan," disputes have arisen between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City over the use of greenbelts. On April 14, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced its intention to consider the entire U-San Park as a candidate site for housing supply, to which Seoul City responded that housing supply should be approached with caution to avoid damaging the park.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Secretary-General, Kim Yoon-duk, stated at a press conference on the first day of his tenure that he was thinking about the broader use of U-San Park, not just its smaller sections, to address issues such as pollution and coordination with the U.S. military. Seoul City reaffirmed its stance that using the entire U-San Park for housing supply is a matter that requires careful consideration, emphasizing that the park is not just a vacant lot but a national asset that must be preserved for future generations.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport highlighted that the park is not just a vacant lot but a national asset that must be preserved for future generations, and that it should not be pursued without adequate social consultation and consensus before focusing on immediate supply targets. The Ministry's broad perspective on U-San Park's potential use came to light during the press conference, where it was pointed out that it may conflict with the basic direction of the law.
The disagreement between the two sides dates back to the previous day's government announcement of the 8·13 Housing Supply Plan, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designating the entire Seoul Greenbelt as a land transaction approval zone for new housing candidate sites, while Seoul City argued that they had not reached the stage of agreeing to lift the Greenbelt.
Secretary-General Kim stated that while there has been some coordination with Seoul City, the government cannot simply acknowledge Seoul City's opposition. He added that he plans to meet with Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the 20th.
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