[Report] "Gwacheon Without a Single Movie Theater, What If They Keep Building Houses Without Considering Infrastructure?"

Local Government, Residents, and Ruling Party Lawmakers All "Oppose"... Gwacheon Shows Supply Plan Confusion

Located at a prime "super station area" near the subway, rated comparable to Gangnam
"Large supermarkets only appeared a few years ago," residents point out insufficient living infrastructure
"Many apartments undergoing redevelopment and development projects on city outskirts," voices of oversupply concerns

No prior consultation with local government... Ministry of Land says "As it is national land, it is not a matter for consultation with Gwacheon City"

Vacant land near the Government Gwacheon Complex, where 4,000 housing units are planned to be supplied according to the government housing supply measures announced on the 4th. The Government Gwacheon Complex can be seen in the background. (Photo by Lee Chunhee)

[Asia Economy Gwacheon=Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the afternoon of the 4th, the idle land in front of the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, was quiet under the monsoon rain. The land, divided into three sections, is currently used as a playground, parking lot, and plaza.

On that day, the government announced a plan to build 4,000 housing units on this land, which has been neglected for decades. Right in front of the site is the Government Complex Gwacheon Station on Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 4. Immediately after the announcement, it was evaluated as a location comparable to the quasi-Gangnam area.

However, the development of the Gwacheon Complex site has caused discord since the announcement. Jeong Mo (28), a resident of Gwacheon, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Everyone says Gwacheon is a good place to live, but in reality, it’s a neighborhood without even a proper movie theater. A large supermarket was only barely established a few years ago," and added, "I don’t understand why everyone is so desperate to build houses."

Mr. A, a representative of a real estate agency in Byeolyang-dong, explained, "If houses are built on that site, the residential conditions would be excellent because it is a prime location directly connected to the subway station." However, he expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "The city has said it would develop the land, but since it is national land, it was not allowed. Now, suddenly wanting to build houses, I don’t know what their intention is."

A representative from a nearby real estate agency B also pointed out, "There are many redevelopment-eligible apartments and ongoing development projects on the outskirts of the city, so the population is expected to increase. I don’t understand how they expect to build more houses without considering infrastructure."

Already Over 20,000 Housing Units Scheduled... Construction Everywhere Nearby

A view of 'Gwacheon Weverfield' adjacent to the vacant land of the Government Gwacheon Complex. Construction is underway with the goal of moving in by January next year. (Photo by Lee Chunhee)

In fact, the area around the Government Complex Gwacheon housing site was full of construction sites. Right across the street, the building of 'Gwacheon Weverfield' (2,128 units), scheduled for occupancy in January next year, was almost completed. Nearby, officetels such as 'e-Pyeonhansesang City Gwacheon' (549 units) and 'Hillstate Gwacheon Central' (319 units) were also under construction.

Additionally, 8,422 housing units (12 complexes) are under construction in the Knowledge Information Town located on the outskirts of the city, and in 2026, 5,701 units will be supplied in the 'Gwacheon Juam Public Support Private Rental Housing Supply Promotion District.'

Not only residents but also Gwacheon City and the ruling Democratic Party lawmakers have expressed opposition to the development of the Gwacheon Complex site. Mayor Kim Jong-cheon of Gwacheon issued a statement immediately after the government announcement, saying, "It was unilaterally and abruptly announced without any prior consultation with Gwacheon City," and added, "We cannot help but feel deep concern and disappointment."

Mayor Kim said that many multi-family housing projects are already underway in Gwacheon and that "we are cooperating with the government’s real estate policy to the fullest extent," but "supplying another large-scale public housing of about 4,000 units would impose unbearable pain on Gwacheon citizens and the city," and therefore "we strongly request that the Government Complex Gwacheon site and the idle land of the complex be excluded from the government’s housing supply plan."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young, representing the Gwacheon and Uiwang districts, also expressed her concerns and regrets on Facebook on the 4th, stating, "It is difficult to see the use of this symbolic and vital space of Gwacheon for housing supply as a reasonable utilization plan." According to nearby real estate agencies, a major reason for opposition is the strong resistance to the large-scale rental housing that would be introduced through the development.

Opposition Also Pours in from Outside Gwacheon, Including Taereung and Sangam

Taereung Golf Course, Nowon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The controversy surrounding the development of the Gwacheon Complex site is seen as a clear example of the chaotic state of the government’s housing supply measures. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the responsible department, stated that there was no situation for consultation. A ministry official explained, "The supply plan is confidential and cannot be disclosed separately," and added, "Since the site is government-owned land for the Government Complex Gwacheon and is national land, not city-owned land, it is difficult to consider Gwacheon City as a consultation party."

This collective backlash within the ruling party is not unique to Gwacheon. Similar controversies have arisen around other large-scale housing supply sites such as the Taereung Golf Course and the unsold land in Sangam DMC. In all cases, there has been collective opposition from local residents, local governments, and district lawmakers.

An industry insider pointed out, "Because they are using every piece of land, proper consultations with residents and local governments have not been conducted. Moreover, even ruling party lawmakers agree with the overall policy but express completely different opinions individually when it comes to local interests."