Park Won-soon's Urban Regeneration Project Blocking Redevelopment... Residents Say "It Only Fostered Slumification"

Visiting Park Won-soon's Urban Regeneration Areas like Changsin and Sungin
Most Budget Spent on Museums and Murals... "Pushed Unilaterally"
Narrow, Winding Alleys... Fire Trucks Can't Enter
Aged 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 Lift After Mayor Oh's Inauguration... Opposition Petition Submitted on 19th

A residential area in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. A mural is painted on the exterior wall of an aging house. (Photo by Community Capture)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Taemin] “From the start, there was not 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 forbid public redevelopment?” (Resident A of 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 various places. The roads in the densely populated residential area were so narrow that it was difficult for two vehicles to pass simultaneously, and the winding alleys were barely wide enough for one or two people to pass. Kang Daeseon, chairman of the Changsin-dong Public Redevelopment Promotion Committee, said, "Rescue vehicles such as fire trucks cannot properly enter, raising serious safety concerns."

An alley in the Sungin-dong area of Jongno-gu, Seoul. Old and shabby houses line up. (Photo by Tae-min Ryu)

Showcase Regeneration... Poor Residential Conditions

Park Won-soon's urban regeneration project aimed at improving deteriorated urban environments is facing strong opposition from residents. Local residents argue that Seoul City's ‘preservation of the original form’ policy actually deepens slum conditions and are demanding the cancellation of urban regeneration zones and public redevelopment. Furthermore, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who hinted at a full review of urban regeneration projects during his candidacy, being elected, residents' opposition voices have grown 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 conducting 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 lamented, “Whenever it rains, the stench of filth is overwhelming, causing harm to residents,” adding, “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 expressed frustration, saying, “Redevelopment is desperately needed, but Seoul City blocks even the application, citing urban regeneration projects as the reason. You have to live here yourself to understand how difficult it is for residents.”

The Urban Regeneration Abolition and Redevelopment Solidarity held 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”… Delivered Opposition Signatures to Mayor Oh

Replacement of aging buildings is also insufficient. According to the Seoul Institute, from 2015 to 2019, the number of new constructions in the first phase urban regeneration activation areas was only 822, accounting for just 4.1% of all buildings. This is 2 percentage points lower than the new construction rate in general low-rise residential areas of 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 constructions took place elsewhere.

Facing the limitations of urban regeneration projects, 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 ‘overlapping support’ and fairness. In response, the Changsin-Sungin-dong Public Redevelopment Promotion Committee filed an administrative appeal last November against Seoul City and Jongno-gu Office regarding the exclusion of public redevelopment project candidate sites.

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

The Urban Regeneration Abolition and Redevelopment Coalition held a press conference on the 15th, urging the abolition of urban regeneration projects. 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 also delivered opposition signatures against urban regeneration, signed by over 10,000 residents, to Mayor Oh Se-hoon.