[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The preservation district around Mugyo-dong and Da-dong in Jung-gu, near Seoul City Hall, has been lifted after 48 years, allowing for small-scale redevelopment. However, the plan is to develop the surrounding area while preserving modern architectural assets such as the former American Cultural Center and the Korea Sports Council Sports Hall located within the area.
On the 6th, Seoul held the 13th Seoul Urban Planning Committee meeting and announced on the 7th that it had approved the revised maintenance plan for the Mugyo-Dadong urban maintenance-type redevelopment project area in Mugyo-dong and Da-dong, Jung-gu.
This is the first time the maintenance plan for the area has been reorganized since the district designation in September 1973, 48 years ago. During that time, 23 out of a total of 35 individual project districts have completed their projects.
Through this reorganization, five districts (Districts 10, 11, 16, 22, and 32), which have been managed as preservation districts since 1973, have been converted into implementation districts to allow redevelopment projects suitable for the surrounding conditions.
Three districts housing modern architectural assets, including the registered cultural heritage sites such as the former American Cultural Center, the Korea Sports Council Sports Hall, and the Imyoung Building, the birthplace of the Holiness Church General Assembly, will preserve the building forms while developing the surrounding areas.
The Mugyo and Da-dong food culture street area has been designated as a small-scale management district to maintain the alleyway commercial district along the old road while allowing for environmental improvements. Separate low-rise building guidelines have also been established for the adjacent general maintenance districts (Districts 15 and 16) to preserve the existing alleyway atmosphere.
A Seoul city official stated, "With this reorganization of the maintenance plan, the characteristics of the revitalized commercial street in the city center will be maintained while practically improving the deteriorated urban landscape. It will strengthen the identity of the downtown area and contribute to the activation of redevelopment projects."
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