Seoul City-Gangnam District Office, Seoul Medical Center Conflict Reignites Over Apartment Complex Construction

Status of the site swap with the former Seoul Medical Center public housing construction site in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. (Source: Provided by Gangnam-gu)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Jung Soon-gyun, mayor of Gangnam District, expressed his intention to "use all possible means, including administrative litigation, to block" Seoul City's decision to allow the construction of multi-family housing on the southern site of Seoul Medical Center, signaling a renewed conflict between Seoul City and Gangnam District. The Seoul Medical Center site has already been a source of repeated disputes between Seoul City and Gangnam District over its utilization plan. With Gangnam District Office declaring its willingness to pursue administrative litigation, a tug-of-war between the two sides is expected during the future process.

Earlier, on the 24th, the Seoul City Urban and Architectural Joint Committee approved a revised district unit plan allowing multi-family housing to be built on the southern part of the former Seoul Medical Center site in Samseong-dong, Gangnam District. Accordingly, multi-family housing will be supplied on part of the southern site of the former Seoul Medical Center.

Mayor Jung strongly opposed the decision, stating, "Gangnam District has proposed alternatives for multi-family housing and requested meetings with Mayor Oh Se-hoon to resolve this issue through dialogue and compromise, but Seoul City did not respond at all. Despite multiple official and unofficial requests for meetings with the mayor, they completely ignored them and abruptly held the committee meeting on the 24th to make this decision, which is regrettable."

Previously, Seoul City and Gangnam District clashed over the utilization of the former Seoul Medical Center site. When Seoul City announced plans to supply 3,000 public rental housing units on the southern site, Gangnam District opposed it fiercely, even threatening litigation. At that time, Mayor Jung held an online press conference stating, "If Seoul City unilaterally changes the district unit plan, we will use all possible means, including administrative litigation, to block it." Seoul City, on the other hand, maintained its stance not to withdraw the plan, so the conflict remains ongoing.

Mayor Jung pointed out, "While the government's August 4th measures to supply 3,000 public housing units on the northern site of Seoul Medical Center remain unresolved, Seoul City's plan to additionally build multi-family housing on the southern site does not align at all with the purpose of the International Exchange Complex District unit plan or the future development of Gangnam." The district plans to file an administrative lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court soon.

Mayor Jung also clearly opposed Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) President Kim Heon-dong's mention of Seoul Medical Center and SETEC as candidate sites for 'half-price apartments.' Jung said, "While I agree with the intention to build land lease-type half-price apartments, the sites should be reconsidered."