The government does not plan to include Yongsan Park or greenbelt land in Seoul in the additional public housing districts of more than 73,000 units it is set to announce as early as late next month.
Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Yoon-duk said on the 26th, ahead of a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, that Yongsan was never part of the plan when asked whether Yongsan Park would be included in the additional new housing sites. "Yongsan was never in it to begin with," Kim said.
Asked whether the 73,000 units would be filled solely with greenbelt land within Gyeonggi Province, the minister said it was difficult to say specifically, adding, "Let's wait a while."
Under the Aug. 13 housing measures, the government announced a plan to develop new housing sites in three areas — Gangseo in Seoul, Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province and Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province — and to break ground on 27,000 units by 2030. It also said it would announce "73,000 units plus more" in additional new housing sites in late September or early October.
Greenbelt land within Seoul — including a reserve forces training ground in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu; Segok-dong and Jagok-dong in Gangnam-gu; the Suseo rail depot; and the area near the Olympic Athletes' Village in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu — was also floated as a candidate. But observers said its feasibility remained uncertain, as the Seoul city government firmly opposes supplying housing by lifting greenbelt restrictions.
The government also intends to use core sites within Yongsan Park, including the Yongsan Children's Garden, for housing supply, but the Seoul city government strongly opposes this as well.
Meanwhile, Kim and Oh failed to find common ground at their meeting that day on using core sites in Yongsan Park for housing supply, and they agreed to meet again next week for further discussions.
