Seoul Private Urban Parks Opened to Citizens through 'Free Land Use Contracts'

Protection of Private Property Rights for Schools, Religious Organizations, and Jongjung... Land Compensation Costs Reduced by 53.7 Billion Won

Baekryeon Neighborhood Park in Hong Eun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, where the Seoul Metropolitan Government has signed an 'Urban Park Site Usage Agreement' with the owner.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is attempting a new contract method that simultaneously protects individuals' private property rights and citizens' rights to use parks in response to the expiration system for long-term unexecuted urban parks.

On the 14th, Seoul announced that it has signed 'land use contracts (free of charge)' with owners for a total of 65,499㎡ across seven parks (10 locations, 44 parcels), including Gwanaksan Neighborhood Park, Bangbae Neighborhood Park, and Baekryeon Neighborhood Park.

These urban parks are designated as parks under urban planning and have good trails and accessibility for hiking and walking, allowing citizens to use them immediately.

The urban park land use contract (free of charge) was newly established in June 2018 under the 'Act on Urban Parks and Green Areas, etc.' It is a system where the project implementer can establish an urban park by signing a use contract with the landowner for land designated as a park. The initial contract period is less than three years, but extensions are possible.

When the city signs such land use contracts through mutual consultation with private owners, schools, religious organizations, and clans that do not wish to have their land expropriated can maintain ownership, while the city can open private land parks to citizens without incurring land compensation costs. This also resolves conflicts or disputes arising from land expropriation, enabling coexistence between the public and private sectors and reducing the budget for land compensation.

The urban parks contracted this time account for about 13% of the total land area (0.51㎢) that the city plans to purchase this year to preserve long-term unexecuted urban parks. Seoul explained that it will save 53.7 billion KRW in land compensation costs. The city plans to use the saved budget to accelerate compensation for other long-term unexecuted urban parks.

A city official said, "There have been many conflicts with schools, religious organizations, and clans wishing to maintain ownership during the process of land expropriation for long-term unexecuted urban parks. To resolve this, after multiple consultations, position adjustments, and legal reviews, we have newly promoted the land use contract method."

Seoul will also monitor future urban park land use contract sites and continuously discover and expand additional sites to improve citizens' accessibility and convenience in using parks.