Redevelopment of Aging Residential Area in Changsin-dong Reinitiated

Designated as Redevelopment Zone 8 Years After Removal from Urban Renewal Promotion District

Location map of Changsin 1-dong area. (Provided by Seoul City)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Redevelopment of the residential area in Changsin-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, where over 95% of the buildings are more than 30 years old, is being pushed forward again.

On the 1st, Seoul City held the 16th Urban Planning Committee meeting and announced on the 2nd that it had amended and approved the "Designation of Maintenance Area and Maintenance Plan for the Changsin 1, 2, 3, and 4 District Urban Maintenance-type Redevelopment Project."

The area in question, Changsin 1-dong, is located between Dongdaemun Station on subway lines 1 and 4 and Dongmyo Station on line 1. It was designated as the Changsin-Sungin Redevelopment Promotion Zone in 2007 and the project was underway but was canceled in 2013.

After the cancellation of the redevelopment promotion zone, some residents of the target area requested to continue the project by converting it to an urban maintenance-type redevelopment. Accordingly, since 2018, related services were initiated, and through resident surveys, expert consultations, and hearings of council opinions, this maintenance plan was established.

Changsin 1 and 2 districts will undergo small-scale maintenance considering the preservation of cultural heritage such as Heunginjimun Gate and industries related to footwear wholesale and retail. Districts 3 and 4 will apply a general maintenance method to carry out large-scale block unit development. Additionally, along streets such as Jongno and Jibong-ro, street activation uses will be designated, and around the stationery and toy street, uses will be designated as local specialized industries to preserve existing industrial characteristics while creating urban spaces.

Considering smooth traffic flow within the target area and the impact on surrounding traffic due to high-density development, roads will be widened from 8 meters to 12 meters. Also, taking into account the characteristics of densely packed gosiwon (small rooms) where about 320 residents live, a 100% floor area ratio incentive will be newly introduced to enable early improvement of the physical environment of the gosiwon.

A Seoul City official stated, "The deteriorated downtown commercial space around Dongdaemun is expected to be reorganized to match the status of the Hanyangdoseong city center," and added, "Specific project plans will be finalized through resident proposals."