Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met Thursday to discuss housing supply plans for the Yongsan area [1, 2].
The meeting marks the first time the two officials have convened since the announcement of the Aug. 13 real estate measures [1]. The discussions focus on the balance between increasing urban housing density and preserving public green spaces in one of Seoul's most central districts.
The officials met at 10:30 a.m. [2] at the Jeong-dong Conference House Dalgaebi in Seoul [2]. The primary agenda involved coordinating the scale of the international business district, and the conversion of state-owned land and parks into residential sites [1, 2].
A significant point of contention remains the use of the Yongsan Park. Mayor Oh said that the city cannot agree to convert even a portion of the park for apartment construction [3]. This stance creates a direct conflict with government goals to expand the available land for housing in the capital.
Minister Kim sought to clarify the scope of the proposed development during the discussions. He said the plan is not for the development of the entire Yongsan Park, but rather a review of damaged sites [3]. This distinction suggests the ministry is looking for a compromise by targeting land that is already degraded rather than untouched green space.
Despite these clarifications, the outcome of the meeting remains uncertain. The government and the city of Seoul hold differing views on the conversion of public land, and the specific volume of housing that should be supplied in the region [1].
“The meeting marks the first time the two officials have convened since the announcement of the Aug. 13 real estate measures.”
The friction between the national government and the Seoul metropolitan government highlights a broader struggle in South Korean urban planning. While the central government is under pressure to stabilize housing prices through aggressive supply increases, local leadership prioritizes the preservation of urban ecology and public parks. The failure to reach an agreement on Yongsan could signal delays in the implementation of the Aug. 13 real estate measures.
