Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Issues Statement in His Own Name
"Cannot Force One-Sided Sacrifice on Mapo-gu Residents"
[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] As it became known that Seoul City is considering the site of the Western Driver’s License Examination Center in Mapo-gu as the exchange target for the Jongno-gu Songhyeon-dong site owned by Korean Air, Mapo-gu has expressed strong opposition.
On the 20th, Mapo-gu Mayor Yudonggyun issued a statement in his own name, saying, “The plan to exchange the Western Driver’s License Examination Center site with the Songhyeon-dong site, promoted by Seoul City and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), is a unilateral housing supply without consultation with the district,” and added, “We firmly reject it.”
Seoul City is currently promoting a plan for LH to purchase the Songhyeon-dong site for park development and then exchange it with city-owned land. Mayor Yu’s statement was released after it became known on the 19th that the Western Driver’s License Examination Center site was being considered as the exchange site.
Mayor Yu pointed out, “Just like when the 8·4 real estate measures announced the supply of 6,200 housing units in the Sangam-dong area, this time as well, the site exchange is being pushed unilaterally without prior consultation with Mapo-gu, the party concerned, which raises concerns and disappointment.”
He continued, “We urge the suspension of the Western Driver’s License Examination Center site exchange, which forces the unilateral sacrifice of Mapo-gu residents for the creation of parks in other areas,” and stated, “We cannot agree to housing supply plans such as rental housing construction being promoted without consultation with Mapo-gu and local residents, the parties concerned.”
Mayor Yu proposed forming a four-party consultative body involving the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul City, Mapo-gu, and local residents to establish a ‘Comprehensive Plan for the Sangam-dong Area’ and jointly consider future utilization plans for the Western Driver’s License Examination Center.
Seoul City views the Western Driver’s License Examination Center site as suitable land to exchange for the Songhyeon-dong site. Since the Western Driver’s License Examination Center was included as a new housing supply site in the 8·4 real estate measures, Seoul City believes that if LH Corporation accepts and develops it, it will have justification.
Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to hold a signing ceremony for a sales adjustment agreement with Korean Air near the Songhyeon-dong site on the 26th to create a cultural park. Initially, Korean Air, facing management difficulties, intended to sell the site to the private sector to raise funds, but private transactions did not occur after Seoul City publicly announced plans to make it a park. This agreement includes the timing and method of sale of the Songhyeon-dong site and the method for determining the sale price. The sale price has not yet been agreed upon. Both parties will decide this later through an appraisal.
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