The government and Seoul City are at odds over the use of Yongsan Park as a site for housing supply, drawing attention to the feasibility of the proposed sites, including supply scale, project procedures, and construction timelines. The government is considering areas within Yongsan Park that are approximately four times larger than the public land suggested by Seoul, but it must first navigate the hurdle of amending special legislation.
Kim Yun-deok, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is exploring housing options for young people and newlyweds centered around the 5th Military Officer's Quarters, military apartments, and the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site. The plan aims to utilize only limited areas where buildings already exist, rather than the entire Yongsan Park.
The three proposed sites cover about 166,000 square meters. The 5th Military Officer's Quarters spans approximately 49,000 square meters and was returned in 1986, previously operated by the Korea Housing Corporation for U.S. military officers. The military apartments cover about 44,000 square meters, while the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site is around 73,000 square meters. Although these two sites were initially outside the main U.S. military base, they were later incorporated into the boundaries of Yongsan Park.
The main obstacle for the government’s proposal is that all three sites are currently within Yongsan Park. To proceed with housing supply, amendments to the special law governing Yongsan Park are necessary, along with subsequent changes to park and urban planning. The former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site also contains historically and culturally significant military facilities, such as the Marine Corps Headquarters built in 1955, which adds complexity to the plan.
In contrast, the alternative sites proposed by Seoul City are located outside the boundaries of Yongsan Park. These include properties owned by various government agencies, such as the National Defense Financial Management Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs parking lot, and the Bank of Korea's Huam Living Quarters.
The National Defense Financial Management Agency site is about 33,000 square meters, offering the largest potential for housing supply among the three alternatives. However, it is currently used by a direct unit of the Ministry of National Defense, necessitating the relocation of the unit and securing alternative sites.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs parking lot is approximately 3,300 square meters, conveniently located near Noksapyeong Station and requiring minimal demolition, allowing for relatively quick project advancement following necessary approvals and changes in use. However, its limited supply capacity is a drawback.
The Bank of Korea's Huam Living Quarters covers about 4,000 square meters and is currently used for employee housing, necessitating relocation. Its narrow access road may also require integrated development with surrounding properties rather than standalone development.
Combining the three sites proposed by Seoul City totals about 40,000 square meters, which is only a quarter of the area of the three sites under government consideration within Yongsan Park. While the supply capacity is smaller, the absence of a need to amend the special law makes the process relatively straightforward.
Ultimately, the government’s proposal offers significant supply potential but faces numerous procedural hurdles, including special law amendments and changes to park plans. In contrast, Seoul City’s plan is simpler in terms of procedures but offers a smaller supply scale. Among the options presented by Seoul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs parking lot is advantageous for speed, while the National Defense Financial Management Agency site has greater supply potential but requires unit relocation.
The situation at Camp Kim near Yongsan Park illustrates the time and procedures necessary for actual construction. The government has expanded its original plan from 1,400 housing units to 2,500 but has set a target construction start date of 2029, pending the return of the military base, soil remediation, and development planning. The key variables for housing supply in the Yongsan area will not only be how many units can be built but also the time and procedures required to commence construction.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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