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

Land Minister Kim Yun-duk stated on Wednesday that the government is contemplating using parts of Yongsan Park, already partially devoid of green space, for limited housing development. Kim firmly rejected allegations that the government plans to transform the central Seoul park into a vast public housing complex as part of broader efforts to boost housing availability in the capital.

Spanning approximately 3 million square meters, roughly equivalent to 420 soccer fields, Yongsan Park primarily occupies land formerly belonging to the U.S. military garrison. During a parliamentary committee meeting at the National Assembly, Kim emphasized that there is no truth to claims that the government intends to erect houses by demolishing green areas within Yongsan Park.

The government is currently examining sites within or adjacent to the park that have already been developed or repurposed, such as former officers' residences, military housing, and the former location of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. When questioned about the possibility of utilizing greenbelt areas for housing purposes, Kim indicated that the government might consider zones that have already lost significant functionality.