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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Seoul Mayor Opposes Housing Development on Yongsan Park Site, Cites Historical Responsibility

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon strongly opposes the government's plan to build public rental housing for young people on part of the Yongsan Park site.
  • Oh argues that converting any portion of the main Yongsan Park grounds for housing would be a historical mistake.
  • While opposing development within the park, the mayor indicated willingness to discuss housing construction on nearby state-owned land.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has reiterated his firm opposition to the government's proposal to develop public rental housing for young people on land designated for Yongsan Park. "If I agree to this, I will be a sinner in history," Oh stated, emphasizing his stance against repurposing any part of the park's core area for residential development.

If I agree to this, I will be a sinner in history.

— Oh Se-hoonSeoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's strong statement against developing Yongsan Park for housing.

His comments came after a meeting with Kim Hyun-mee, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, to discuss housing supply in Seoul. Oh clarified that his objection specifically targets the main Yongsan Park site, including areas like the former NCO dormitory, military apartments, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration site. He argued that the special law for Yongsan Park's development aims to create a comprehensive park, not just green spaces, and that building apartments would contradict this vision.

I clearly stated my position that I cannot agree to the conversion of the main Yongsan Park site into apartment land under any circumstances.

— Oh Se-hoonMayor Oh's direct refusal to allow housing development on the park's core site.

While the mayor acknowledged that the government and ruling party might attempt to amend the special law to enable housing construction, he expressed confidence that many Seoul citizens would support preserving the park for future generations. As a potential compromise, Oh suggested exploring housing development on adjacent state-owned lands, such as those near Noksa-pyeong Station and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' deputy minister site, which have also been mentioned by local lawmaker Kwon Young-se.

The intention of the special law for Yongsan Park development is to make the entire main site, not just the green space, into a park.

— Oh Se-hoonMayor Oh's interpretation of the legal framework for Yongsan Park's development.

Furthermore, Mayor Oh reaffirmed his opposition to the government's plans to lift restrictions on Seoul's development-restricted zones (green belts), recalling a previous commitment made during the de-restriction of the Suri-pul green belt in 2024 that no further de-restrictions would occur.

The National Assembly cannot actually stop the part where the law is changed in the National Assembly.

— Oh Se-hoonMayor Oh's acknowledgment of the legislature's power to amend laws.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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