The reconstruction of Apgujeong is not a single project. The areas from Misung Apartments near the Han River Bridge to Hanyang Apartments in Cheongdam-dong are advancing with different associations and timelines for districts 1 through 6. This follows the Seoul city government's 2016 announcement of a district unit plan that grouped 24 apartment complexes in the Apgujeong area into six reconstruction project units.
Apgujeong was designated as an apartment district in 1976. This designation aimed to quickly supply large-scale apartments by dividing a wide area into residential, central facility, school, road, and park zones. While it contributed to alleviating housing shortages, limitations became apparent over time. The separation of complexes and commercial areas, along with the massive apartment walls, disrupted the urban landscape. There was also a lack of pedestrian pathways connecting Apgujeong Road to the Han River.
Reconstructing aging apartments individually could exacerbate these issues. If a single complex focuses solely on its own land for building and entrances, it may not connect well with surrounding roads and parks. This could lead to a chaotic skyline along the Han River and complicate the allocation of responsibilities for schools, transportation facilities, and access routes to the river.
To address these challenges, the Seoul city government proposed transitioning the existing apartment district to a district unit plan in October 2016, grouping adjacent complexes into six special planning zones. The divisions were based on road and land boundaries, existing living areas, and the potential for integrated reconstruction, rather than the names of complexes or construction phases. However, the announcement in 2016 did not immediately lead to legal confirmation, as the plan underwent long-term adjustments through resident feedback, urban planning reviews, and policy changes.
A turning point came in 2023 when the Seoul city government finalized the rapid integration plan for districts 2 to 5, presenting a vision to connect the areas as a single urban entity. Key elements included a creative skyline along the Han River, waterfront leisure and cultural hubs, public pedestrian pathways, and connections to Seongsu and Seoul Forest. In November of the same year, the district unit plan for the Apgujeong apartment area was officially decided and announced.
Currently, the pace of the projects varies by district. District 2, composed of Shin-Hyundai 9, 11, and 12, has selected Hyundai Construction as its contractor and became the first among districts 2 to 5 to conditionally pass the integrated review by the Seoul city government in July 2026. The plan includes a maximum of 66 floors and 2,381 housing units, and it is progressing through the project approval process. The largest project, District 3, has also selected Hyundai Construction, while District 4, consisting of Hyundai 8 and Hanyang 3, 4, and 6, has chosen Samsung C&T, and District 5, made up of Hanyang 1 and 2, has selected Hyundai Construction as well. Districts 1 and 6 are in the early stages of preparing for association establishment.
The six-district framework is not intended to fragment Apgujeong into six pieces. While the projects will be pursued by district, the goal is to connect roads, green spaces, the Han River landscape, and pedestrian systems at the overall Apgujeong level. The challenge ahead will be how to coordinate the pace and interests of each district to create 'six projects, one city.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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