Seoul: The South Korean government is considering a controversial proposal to build 20,000 apartments in Yongsan Park, central Seoul, as a measure to alleviate the city's housing shortage. The plan, however, involves breaking existing legal and public commitments to preserve the area as green space, raising significant public and political opposition.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the proposal focuses on utilizing the 300,000-square-meter Yongsan Children's Garden, part of the planned 3-million-square-meter Yongsan Park. Land Minister Kim Yoon-duk has indicated that the government is considering the entire park for potential housing development. While the urgency to address the housing crisis is understandable, converting the last major green space in Seoul, which holds historical significance, into housing complexes has sparked debate.
Yongsan Park was designated as a national park under a special law enacted by the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2007. This legislation was part of a social agreement to transform the former U.S. military base into public green space. Despite previous discussions on housing development due to real estate issues, policymakers had decided that the site should serve the public good.
Article 4-2 of the special law explicitly prohibits changing the main site's use from a park or selling it, meaning amending the law would be necessary for housing construction. Additionally, thousands of public comments have opposed proposed legislation aimed at altering the park's development plan. The return process of portions of the former U.S. military base is incomplete, and challenges such as soil contamination and remediation remain.
While the government has demonstrated determination to increase housing supply, numerical targets should not overshadow feasibility. Plans announced in September last year and August this year aim for a combined 1.6 million homes, yet few are expected to be ready for occupancy during the current administration's term.
The government should prioritize accelerating construction of already planned housing and improving the implementation process. In Seoul, easing unreasonable restrictions on redevelopment and reconstruction projects would better encourage private sector involvement.
Land Minister Kim is scheduled to meet Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has strongly opposed any damage to Yongsan Park, on Thursday. Effective housing policy will require market confidence, achieved only through thorough consultation with local governments and broader social consensus, rather than unilateral decisions or political bargains.