Seoul City Approves Revision of District Unit Plan Decision for US Embassy Site
Approximately 30,000㎡ on East Side to Be Developed as Yongsan Park
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The blueprint for relocating the U.S. Embassy in Korea to Yongsan has been unveiled. A building up to 12 stories high will be constructed, and the site originally intended for embassy staff housing will be developed into a park.
On the 23rd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held the 11th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting and announced on the 24th that it had approved revisions to the "District Unit Plan and Planning Decision for the U.S. Embassy in Korea."
The U.S. Embassy in Korea will move to part of the former Camp Coiner site within the Yongsan U.S. military base, specifically at 1-5, Yongsan-dong 1-ga, Yongsan-gu. Located on the northern side of Yongsan Park, the land has been owned by the U.S. government since 2005 under a memorandum of understanding and land exchange agreement between the Korean and U.S. governments. Since then, the Seoul city government has been establishing a district unit plan for the embassy relocation in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S. government in 2011.
The main content of this decision is to change the land use designation from green space to a second-class general residential area and to determine the building plan. The building will have a floor area ratio of up to 200%, a height limit of 55 meters, and a maximum of 12 floors.
Approximately 30,000 square meters on the east side of the area originally intended for embassy staff housing will be developed into Yongsan Park. Earlier in May, the Korean and U.S. governments agreed through a real estate exchange memorandum of understanding to swap part of the Asia Apartment, which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will receive as a donation, with this site. As a result, about 9,000 pyeong (approximately 29,752 square meters) of parkland will be returned to the citizens. A Seoul city official stated, "We expect significant benefits, including improved pedestrian access and scenery on the northern side of the park, as well as contributing to the green corridor connection from Namsan to the Han River."
Furthermore, once the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Korea is completed, the existing embassy site owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be utilized to improve the structure of Gwanghwamun Square, the city explained. The U.S. Embassy in Korea has been using the building in front of Gwanghwamun for over 50 years since 1968.
Considering follow-up procedures such as building permits, the relocation to Yongsan is expected to take about two years. A Seoul city official said, "This district unit plan decision has laid the groundwork for the embassy relocation that has been pursued for over 40 years. We expect a new embassy that harmonizes well with Yongsan Park to be established, contributing to the friendly development between Korea and the U.S."
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