[Report] Park Won-soon's Showy Urban Regeneration Projects... Blocking Redevelopment and Only Worsening Slum Conditions

Visiting Park Won-soon's Urban Regeneration Areas like Changsin and Seogye-dong...
One-sided Policy Push... Most Budget Spent on Museums and Murals
Narrow, Winding Alleys... Fire Trucks Can't Enter
Aging Underground Pipes... Residents Complain of Foul Odors on Rainy Days
Residents Demand Public Redevelopment... Seoul City Rejects, Citing No Duplicate Support
Expectations Rise for Regeneration Area Cancellation with Mayor Oh's Inauguration... Opposition Signatures Submitted on 19th

On the 16th, a road in a densely populated residential area in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The road is so narrow that it is difficult for two vehicles to pass simultaneously, causing inconvenience to the residents. (Photo by Ryu Taemin)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] “From the start, there wasn’t a single resident who wanted an urban regeneration project that had no effect. Is it reasonable to push the project unilaterally and then say it overlaps and prevent public redevelopment?” (Resident A from Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)

Last weekend, the reporter visited the Changsin and Sungin-dong areas in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The steep alleyway stairs were cracked all over, and household garbage was scattered messily in many places. The roads in the densely populated residential area were so narrow that it was difficult for two cars to pass simultaneously, and the winding alleys were barely wide enough for one or two people to pass. Kang Dae-seon, chairman of the Changsin-dong Public Redevelopment Promotion Committee, said, "Rescue vehicles such as fire trucks cannot properly enter, so there is a great concern about safety accidents."

In the alleys around Seogye-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, old and shabby houses with slate and traditional roof tiles line up. (Photo by Ryu Taemin)

Showcase-Only Regeneration... Poor Residential Conditions

The Park Won-soon-style urban regeneration project aimed at improving the deteriorated urban environment is facing strong opposition from residents. Residents in the area are demanding the cancellation of the urban regeneration designation and public redevelopment, arguing that Seoul City's ‘preservation of original form’ policy actually worsens slum conditions. Furthermore, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who hinted at a full review of the urban regeneration project during his candidacy, being elected, the residents' voices of opposition are growing louder.

Since 2014, Seoul City has designated areas urgently needing maintenance, such as New Town and redevelopment cancellation zones or aging low-rise residential areas, as ‘Urban Regeneration Activation Areas’ and has been carrying out regeneration projects. However, most of the budget has been spent on public facilities, museum construction, and mural painting, while the development of aging houses and deteriorated alleys, which residents actually need, has not been carried out, increasing residents' dissatisfaction. Chairman Kang said, “On rainy days, the stench of filth is overwhelming, causing harm to residents,” and lamented, “This is due to aging underground pipes, but only a few sewers were replaced and that was it.”

The situation is similar in other areas. In the alleys of Seogye-dong visited that day, old and shabby houses with slate and tile roofs were easily found. Resident B said, “Redevelopment is desperately needed, but Seoul City blocks even the application, citing the urban regeneration project,” expressing frustration, “You have to live here yourself to understand how difficult it is for residents.”

The Urban Regeneration Abolition and Redevelopment Solidarity is holding a press conference on the 15th in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding the 'abolition of urban regeneration.' (Photo by Ryu Taemin)

Residents: “Stop the Project and Redevelop”

Replacement of aging buildings is also insufficient. According to the Seoul Institute, the number of new buildings constructed in the first phase Urban Regeneration Activation Areas from 2015 to 2019 was a total of 822, accounting for only 4.1% of all buildings. This is 2 percentage points lower than the new construction rate in general low-rise residential areas in Seoul (6.1%). Notably, more than half of these, over 500, were concentrated in specific areas such as Jangwi and Sangdo, while almost no new buildings were constructed elsewhere.

Facing the limitations of the urban regeneration project, local residents introduced a new card called public redevelopment, but even this was not easy. Seoul City and local district offices rejected the promotion of public redevelopment projects in urban regeneration areas, citing ‘duplicate support’ and fairness. In response, the Changsin and Sungin-dong Public Redevelopment Promotion Committee filed an administrative appeal last November against the exclusion of public redevelopment project candidate sites by Seoul City and Jongno District Office.

However, with the inauguration of Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the 7th, expectations for the cancellation of urban regeneration areas have risen. During the by-election campaign, Mayor Oh strongly criticized the urban regeneration project as a ‘waste of budget’ and hinted at a full review.

The Urban Regeneration Abolition and Redevelopment Solidarity (Urban Regeneration Cancellation Solidarity) held a press conference on the 15th, urging the abolition of the urban regeneration project. Residents from a total of 11 areas participated in the press conference, including Changsin-dong, Sungin-dong, Garibong 5 District, Sangdo 4-dong, Dongja-dong, Seogye-dong, Sillim 4 District, Guro 1 District, Daechung Village in Irwon-dong, Jangwi 11 District, and Taepyeong 2 and 4-dong in Seongnam. On the 19th, they plan to deliver a petition opposing urban regeneration signed by about 10,000 residents to Mayor Oh Se-hoon.