Land minister says gov't considering part of Yongsan Park as housing site

SEOUL, August 19 (Yonhap) - Land Minister Kim Yun-duk said the government is considering using portions of Yongsan Park, which has lost some of its green space, for limited housing development. Kim dismissed claims that the central Seoul park is being transformed into a vast public housing complex as part of efforts to boost housing supply in the capital.

The park, largely situated on land returned from the former U.S. military base, covers around 3 million square meters, comparable to roughly 420 soccer fields. Kim, during a parliamentary committee meeting at the National Assembly, assured that the government is not pushing to bulldoze green areas in Yongsan Park. The review of sites within or around the park for housing development includes former officers' residences, military housing, and the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site.

Kim stated that the government could consider areas that have already lost significant environmental value, while preserving green spaces that require protection. Plans to discuss the proposal with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who opposes developing green areas in central Seoul for housing, are scheduled for Thursday. The government's housing plan aims to provide over 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area by intensifying development on public land, relaxing some greenbelt restrictions, and supporting private-sector projects.