[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] The unimplemented district within Sinmunno 2 District, spanning Jongno-gu and Jung-gu in Seoul, has been removed from the redevelopment zone. Through this decision, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to preserve modern architectural assets such as the Sarangui Yeolmae Hall (1978), as well as old cadastral lines and old roads in the area.
On the 19th, Seoul held the 11th Seoul Urban Planning Committee meeting and announced on the 20th that it had approved the amendment of the 'Sinmunno 2 Urban Maintenance-type Redevelopment District Designation (Change) and Maintenance Plan Decision (Change), and Landscape Review' covering Sinmunno 1-ga and 2-ga in Jongno-gu and Jeongdong area in Jung-gu.
Sinmunno 2 District is adjacent to Jeongdong, a historically significant area from the Korean Empire period. Out of the total 11 districts, 8 have completed projects, resulting in large-scale buildings along Saemunan-ro.
The city explained that after first establishing a maintenance plan in 2017 to remove (exclude) the unimplemented district of Sinmunno 2 from the redevelopment zone, it gathered opinions from experts, local residents, and private companies over four years, and finally submitted it to the Urban Planning Committee for approval.
Previously, the higher-level plan, the '2025 Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Basic Plan (Urban Maintenance-type Redevelopment District, decided in 2016),' emphasized the need to enhance the city's appeal by utilizing the historical characteristics within the Hanyang Fortress city center. It set the direction that the unimplemented district of Sinmunno 2 should be preserved and managed in connection with the Jeongdong Characteristic Management District under the Historical City Center Basic Plan. The main content of the Jeongdong Characteristic Management District is to preserve old cadastral lines, old roads, and modern buildings of historical value.
Accordingly, the city plans to include the removed area within the Jeongdong District Unit Planning Zone for management. Seoul stated, "Following this Urban Planning Committee decision, an urban planning foundation has been established to preserve modern architectural assets such as the Deoksugung Palace cadastral line, Seohakdang-gil, Sarangui Yeolmae Hall (designed by Kim Sookeun and Space Architecture, 1978), Chosun Ilbo Art Museum (Wondosi Architecture, 1988), and the Pierson Building (1971, an early example of mixed-use residential and commercial architecture). This is expected to greatly contribute to maintaining the atmosphere of the historical city center."
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