The redevelopment projects in the Seogye and Cheongpa-dong areas of Seoul are expected to increase the number of housing units by 1,695, despite the demolition of existing homes. The Seoul city government emphasized that these projects will not only replace old housing but also significantly expand the overall housing supply, while managing relocation demand to prevent rental market disruptions.
On the morning of August 11, Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the redevelopment sites in Yongsan-gu to assess the progress of the projects. He also held a community meeting to gather feedback from residents, including representatives from local associations. Currently, seven private redevelopment projects, including the Rapid Integrated Planning and the Moya Town initiatives, are underway in the area.
Excluding the Cheongpa 3 district, where the number of housing units has yet to be finalized, the six redevelopment projects are projected to increase the total housing units from 6,393 to 8,088, resulting in a net gain of 1,695 units. Even considering the complete demolition of existing homes, this represents a 26.5% increase.
The city presented this as a case demonstrating the tangible benefits of redevelopment in expanding housing supply. Once the planned number of units for the Cheongpa 3 district is confirmed, the overall supply is expected to exceed 8,088 units.
Seogye and Cheongpa-dong, despite their proximity to Seoul Station, have been known for their long-delayed redevelopment due to their status as aging low-rise residential areas. Formed during the industrialization and urbanization of the 1960s, the region has faced calls for improvement due to steep hills, narrow alleys, and deteriorating housing conditions.
After the 'New Town Exit Strategy' in 2012, redevelopment efforts stalled and shifted to urban regeneration projects, leading to prolonged stagnation. Mayor Oh described the New Town Exit Strategy as a 'hostile policy toward redevelopment and reconstruction.'
Support is also being provided to improve project viability and shorten timelines. In the Seogye integrated area, the current floor area ratio is being applied to secure about 50 additional units compared to previous plans, while in the Cheongpa 2 district, direct establishment of associations is being supported to bypass the committee stage.
The Moya Town in Seogye-dong is pursuing a plan to increase the number of units from 172 to 499 by changing its zoning from a general residential area to a semi-residential area, adding 327 units. However, this plan will undergo further review before final approval.
During his visit, Mayor Oh inspected the narrow alleys and steep slopes that hinder fire truck access, as well as the aging homes. He later held a meeting at the Cheongpa 2 redevelopment association office with about 30 attendees, including the association chair and residents, to discuss project viability, permits, and easing regulations on relocation loans.
In the meeting, Mayor Oh emphasized that the number of housing units will increase upon completion of the redevelopment projects. According to the Seoul city government, 59 redevelopment projects completed in the past three years have resulted in a 36.4% increase in housing units, adding approximately 20,000 units. Redevelopment contributed about 7,000 units (27.4%), while reconstruction added around 13,000 units (44.2%).
Seoul plans to start construction on a total of 310,000 housing units across 253 redevelopment projects by 2031. Even accounting for the loss of existing homes, the city estimates a net gain of about 87,000 units, which represents 39.2% of the total planned supply. Among these, 48,000 units are expected to be rental housing. The city aims to expand both general sales and rental housing supply to ensure housing stability for young people, newlyweds, and citizens without homes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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