용산어린이정원도 주택부지 될까…정부, 여론조사 등 공론화 나선다

The South Korean government is actively exploring the possibility of converting the Yeouido Kindergarten Garden into public housing for young people and newlyweds. This comes as part of a broader effort to gather public opinion on the matter. On January 17th, both the Blue House and the government announced their commitment to conducting public opinion surveys and promoting dialogue on the issue.

Government officials believe that highlighting the use of publicly owned land to provide housing for young people and newlyweds could garner public support.

In particular, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is looking into the possibility of constructing public housing on the appropriate portion of Yeouido Park. During a press conference on January 14th, Land Transportation Minister Kim Yun-duk stated that "it is necessary to examine the possibility of constructing public housing on the appropriate portion of Yeouido Park, including Yeouido Kindergarten Garden."

Economic Policy Director Hyun Jin-kyung commented on January 13th during a media interview that "building an apartment there and making it a public property would enable young people to live there, get married, and raise children, leading to greater usage by families with young children."

President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged in 2022 during his presidential campaign to supply 100,000 apartments if the Yeouido Park and surrounding U.S. military return land were returned. According to the Yeouido Park Master Plan, 31.5% of the 243 million square meters of land, including the 76.5 million square meters returned by September 2024, would be used for public housing. The government plans to use around 300,000 square meters of the recently returned land to temporarily open Yeouido Kindergarten Garden.

The 'Yeouido Park Establishment Special Act' could potentially allow for this conversion, but it would require a revision of the special act and overcoming the barrier of 'social consensus.' While the unique status of the only national park in Korea might limit the scope of the special act, the government believes that overcoming this barrier is necessary.

However, opposition from Seoul and Yeouido city, as well as local residents, could pose significant challenges to the government's efforts to push forward with the housing project.