Hong Ji-sun, the nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, said the government will examine whether homes can be built on peripheral sections of the Yongsan Park site while preserving its core areas.
"We will protect the core spaces of the Yongsan Park site while looking into whether housing can be supplied, focused mainly on peripheral spaces," Hong said in written answers submitted on the 14th to the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee ahead of a confirmation hearing.
"As I understand it, the government is not seeking to develop the entire Yongsan Park but is at a stage of reviewing which parts of the overall site are suitable for housing construction," the nominee said.
"I understand the Yongsan Park site has high potential to quickly provide a considerable amount of housing for future generations, including young adults," Hong said. "I think there is a need to review ways for housing for future generations to coexist with the park's core functions, such as securing green space."
The nominee added that if confirmed as minister, the plan would be pursued only after sufficient public debate and the building of a national consensus.
On the standoff between the central government and the Seoul city government over using parks and green space for housing, Hong said both sides share the same goal. "I understand that both the central government and the Seoul city government have the shared aim of quickly supplying a sufficient volume of housing," the nominee said, adding that the ministry would review earlier discussions with the city and flesh out the direction of consultations.
Asked about lifting more restricted development zones, known as the greenbelt, to expand housing supply in the greater Seoul area, Hong said such steps may be warranted in some cases. "If needed for the housing stability of the public, I think it is necessary to select and release areas within restricted development zones that have already been damaged and have low conservation value, and supply housing there," the nominee said.
