Seoul: Land Minister Kim Yun-duk announced on Wednesday that the government is considering the possibility of using portions of Yongsan Park in Seoul, which have diminished in their function as green spaces, for limited housing development.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim addressed concerns during a parliamentary committee meeting at the National Assembly, stating that the government does not intend to transform the central Seoul park into a large-scale public housing project. The park, a significant expanse of approximately 3 million square meters, was previously part of a U.S. military garrison and is roughly equivalent in size to 420 football fields.

Kim clarified that the government is evaluating sites within or adjacent to the park that are already developed or repurposed, such as former officers' residences, military housing, and the prior location of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. He emphasized that any potential development would focus on areas that have lost much of their environmental value, while ensuring the protection of vital green spaces.

The minister also mentioned plans to discuss the proposal with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has publicly opposed the development of green areas in central Seoul for housing. The broader housing strategy seeks to provide over 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area, leveraging public land development, easing some greenbelt restrictions, and fostering private-sector projects.

The proposal has faced public opposition, with around 200 residents gathering at Yongsan Park, as estimated by unofficial police sources, urging the government to abandon the plan. At a press conference, a group advocating for the park's preservation argued for its establishment as a national park rather than a housing site.

The debate over Yongsan Park has also ignited political tensions. Members of the main opposition People Power Party accused the government of reneging on President Lee Jae Myung's campaign promise to convert the park into a public space akin to New York's Central Park. Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling party defended the government's approach, stating that housing development is being considered only in areas unsuitable for park use.