Han Seong-sook, the Prime Minister of South Korea, visited the Taereung Golf Course housing supply site in Seoul on September 18, urging the need for a comprehensive design that includes transportation, living conditions, education, and childcare infrastructure.
During her visit to the Taereung and Gangneung areas in Nowon-gu, she was accompanied by key officials, including Lee Hyung-il, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Kim I-tak, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Choi Bo-gun, Deputy Minister of the Cultural Heritage Administration; Lee Seong-hoon, President of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH); and lawmakers Woo Won-sik and Seo Jun-oh, the mayor of Nowon-gu.
"When designing residential environments, it is essential to enhance the quality of the homes while also improving the surrounding environment to create better living conditions," Han stated. She emphasized that efficient transportation is crucial for making the area a desirable residential location.
She added, "We must not only build homes but also design policies that encompass transportation, living conditions, education, and childcare. We should plan facilities related to startups, childcare, and schools simultaneously and work on branding the community as well."
Han noted that incorporating UNESCO's requirements while designing diverse housing types could help preserve the region's advantages.
At the site, transportation planning was identified as a key factor for the project's success. Approximately 50,000 vehicles travel daily on the nearby Hwarang-ro from the northern part of Namyangju, while about 120,000 vehicles use the Northern Expressway, leading to chronic congestion. Concerns have been raised about increased traffic burdens due to large housing projects in nearby areas like Galmae Station and Baeksam Village.
Woo warned, "If we add 6,800 housing units without properly designing the transportation network, we could face a traffic crisis. Without a transportation plan, it will be difficult to proceed with the project." Seo proposed expanding Hwarang-ro, constructing the Baeksa Tunnel, and building a railway network connecting Byeollae Station with the Taereung district and Kwangwoon University Station.
Han acknowledged the severe congestion on the Northern and Eastern Expressways, stating, "I am aware of the traffic issues. The Ministry of Land is already working on a comprehensive plan that includes transportation, and we will review the proposed solutions together." Kim added that to reflect the improvements in next year's budget, the metropolitan transportation improvement plan needs to be finalized by the end of this year.
Han also instructed officials to ensure sufficient green spaces, parks, and cultural and sports facilities, as well as to consider introducing carbon-neutral housing and facilities for youth startups. She emphasized the need to design the entire urban area by integrating housing with essential living elements and to comprehensively plan the transportation network considering ongoing land development in the vicinity.
The Taereung district project aims to supply 6,800 housing units across an 870,000 square meter area spanning Nowon-gu in Seoul and Galmae-dong in Guri, Gyeonggi Province. The planned population is approximately 15,000, with the Taereung Golf Course occupying about 720,000 square meters of the total project area.
Initially launched in 2020 under the '8-4 Plan,' the project faced delays due to ongoing discussions about preserving the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Taereung and Gangneung and addressing traffic issues. The government reaffirmed the plan to supply 6,800 housing units in the Taereung district through the January 29 supply plan this year.
The government aims to complete discussions related to cultural heritage by the end of this year, designate the public housing district by March 2027, and begin construction by September 2029. A replacement golf course for the Taereung Golf Course will also be selected by the first half of next year, and the government plans to expedite the donation and transfer procedures with the Ministry of National Defense.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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