Completion of the New Construction of the ‘Jeongbu Seoul Cheongsa Changseong-dong Annex’ by the End of 2023

Enhancing Safety Performance with Seismic 'Special' Grade

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Government Complex Management Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 21st that it will demolish the aging building of the Changseong-dong Annex of the Government Seoul Complex and rebuild it as a safe building with an applied seismic grade.

Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul (in front of Yeongchumun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace), the Changseong-dong Annex was originally constructed in 1960 as the National Academy (Kookmin University). In 1982, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs took over the building, and offices such as the Blue House, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved in, playing an important role in discussing and deciding government policies.

Although the Changseong-dong Annex serves as a major government facility performing national policy functions, it had become severely aged after more than 60 years since its construction, and since seismic design standards were not applied at the time of construction, it was exposed to many risks.

Following the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, seismic performance standards for existing structures were strengthened, and especially for major facilities such as government complexes, reinforcement to withstand earthquakes of seismic intensity 7 to 9 with a ‘Special’ grade was mandated.

In 2017, the Government Complex Management Headquarters conducted an ‘Evaluation of the Condition and Safety of the Structure’ for the Changseong-dong Annex and received a D grade (risk of collapse), concluding that ‘repair, reinforcement, or reconstruction is necessary.’

After comprehensively comparing and evaluating alternatives such as remodeling and demolition followed by reconstruction, the Government Complex Management Headquarters plans to demolish and rebuild the Changseong-dong Annex. Designed with a seismic ‘Special’ grade, the new Changseong-dong Annex will be constructed at a total project cost of 29.9 billion KRW, with one basement floor and four above-ground floors (total floor area of 10,594㎡). Demolition work began on April 1, and the full-scale reconstruction project has commenced, aiming for completion in December 2023.

The newly constructed Changseong-dong Annex, with enhanced seismic performance, will be developed as a smart office to be used as office space for various committees, major government agencies, and a smart work center. Additionally, a book caf? and a pine garden will be created on the site to provide a pleasant working environment while harmonizing with nearby cultural heritage sites such as the royal palaces, creating a more refined space.

Park Hyung-bae, Director of Facility Planning at the Government Complex Management Headquarters, said, “With the reconstruction of the Changseong-dong Annex, we will actively support the safe and efficient management of all government complexes so that public officials in resident institutions can focus on their work, thereby realizing a competent and efficient government.”