[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Seoul Yongsan Camp Kim site, returned from the U.S. military, has been designated as a commercial area and will be developed. The plan to underground the Gyeongbu Line railway connecting Seoul Station and Yongsan Station is also included in the development blueprint for the Yongsan Station area.
According to Yongsan-gu on the 2nd, the district has disclosed the revised Yongsan district unit plan containing these details and is conducting a public inspection for residents until the 11th. The district unit plan is a kind of detailed development guideline. The district revised the existing district unit plan confirmed in 2010 and presented a change plan after 11 years. The target area covers 3,432,490 square meters from Bongnae-dong in Jung-gu to Hangang-ro in Yongsan-gu.
The revision newly established the Camp Kim site in Hangang-ro 1-ga 1-1 area of Yongsan-gu as a special planning zone. Yongsan-gu explained, "It was newly established for proactive management as a key development site after the U.S. military base relocation." The site is scheduled to be developed under the Special Act on the Creation of Yongsan Park, and the district included the development plan direction in this district unit plan.
The main points are to upgrade the Camp Kim site, currently classified as a natural green area, to a general commercial area to develop commercial and office spaces, install resident support facilities (public offices), and create an open space along the Han River. The height is limited to 120 meters but can be relaxed up to 150 meters through the architectural committee review. Mancho Stream will also be restored. Although the government announced last year that 3,100 housing units would be supplied on the Camp Kim site, this was not mentioned in the district unit plan.
The Yongsan Railway Hospital site was also newly designated as a special planning zone. This reflects the detailed development plan announced by Seoul City at the end of last month to remodel the existing hospital building into the Yongsan History Museum and construct a residential-commercial complex building with six underground floors and up to 34 floors above ground, comprising 685 households.
The plan considering the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line was included for the first time this time. It manages the landscape considering the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line connecting Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, and the Han River, and incorporated the northern Han River railway area into the district unit plan to strengthen connectivity with the Han River.
A new landscape plan was established based on the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line connecting Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, and the Han River, and the northern Han River railway area was incorporated into the district unit plan to enhance connectivity with the Han River upon undergrounding. When undergrounded, the upper layers will be used as park land, creating a wide pedestrian path linking the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, the Han River, and Yongsan Park.
Meanwhile, the plan to build a landmark up to 620 meters high in the international business district around the Yongsan Maintenance Depot was maintained. In the past, Seoul City appeared to be trying to re-promote a plan to create a large international business district in this area, including a 620-meter, 111-floor building. This revised district unit plan will be finalized after consultations with the government and others, as well as Seoul City reviews.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
