South Korean Land Minister Kim Yun-deok said the government is only considering partial development of Yongsan Park for housing supply [1].
The dispute highlights a growing tension between the central government's push to increase urban housing and the preservation of historically significant green spaces in Seoul. Because Yongsan Park serves as a major ecological and cultural landmark, any reduction in its greenery has triggered a sharp political divide.
During a meeting of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, lawmakers from the People Power Party and officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government expressed strong opposition to the proposed legislative and policy changes [1]. The debate centers on whether the government is attempting to relax green space regulations to facilitate residential construction within the park's boundaries.
Rep. Kim Eun-hye (People Power Party) criticized the government's approach to housing quotas. "I want to ask if you are now telling the historical meaning to shut up, as you told us to shut up and just supply [housing]," Kim said [1].
Minister Kim responded to the backlash by clarifying the scope of the government's intentions. "It is not the entire development," Kim said [1].
The disagreement comes as the government seeks new land for housing projects in a densely populated capital. However, the opposition argues that the historical and environmental value of the park outweighs the need for additional residential units [1].
The conflict intensified one day before a plenary session of the National Assembly, with critics suggesting that the government's housing goals are overriding the preservation of the city's public assets [1].
“"It is not the entire development,"”
This conflict reflects a broader structural struggle in South Korean urban planning, where the urgent need to lower housing costs through aggressive supply increases clashes with the preservation of public land. The involvement of both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and members of the ruling conservative party against the Land Minister suggests a significant internal rift regarding how to balance development with the city's environmental and historical legacy.
