Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon proposed using the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center site for youth housing and industrial complexes during a meeting Wednesday.
The proposal seeks to solve critical housing shortages while directly linking residential areas to employment hubs for young professionals.
During a second meeting held Aug. 26 with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok, Oh suggested the Tancheon site as an alternative to the Yongsan Park area [1, 2]. The proposed site covers 400,000 square meters [2].
City officials estimate the project could provide between 10,000 and 13,000 housing units [2]. The plan envisions a mixed-use development where residential spaces coexist with industrial zones. A Physical AI complex is among the proposed facilities, which would link jobs and housing in a single location [2].
"I propose utilizing the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center site," Oh said [2].
Beyond the Tancheon proposal, the meeting addressed broader urban development goals. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport agreed to proactively review a proposal to relax redevelopment floor area ratios by 1.2 times [2].
This meeting follows an initial discussion between the mayor and the minister held six days earlier [2]. The two leaders are coordinating efforts to increase the supply of housing in the capital region through both new site development and the easing of existing zoning regulations [1, 2].
“"I propose utilizing the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center site,"”
The shift in focus from Yongsan Park to the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center suggests a strategic move to avoid the political and environmental complexities associated with the high-profile Yongsan site. By integrating 'Physical AI' industrial hubs with high-density youth housing, Seoul is attempting to implement a 'work-live' urban model to reduce commuting burdens and attract tech talent.
