Seoul City: "Supplying 3,000 Housing Units on the Former Seoul Medical Center Site Is Unrealistic"

Ministry of Land Refuses 8.4 Measures in Practice... "Dragged Along During Acting Authority Period"
Plan to Promote Around 800 Households Announced in 2018... "Half-Price Apartments for 3,000 Households Are a Misunderstanding"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has effectively rejected the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's plan to supply 3,000 housing units on the former Seoul Medical Center site in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu. Emphasizing the characteristics of the international exchange complex district, the city expressed its intention to reduce the housing scale but stated that alternative sites could be discussed with Gangnam-gu if necessary. As alternative sites, it mentioned that the total volume could only be met by expanding to include private sites along with the Cowon Energy Service site in Daechi-dong.

On the 20th, Ryu Hoon, Seoul's Deputy Mayor for Administration 2, held a press briefing and said, "Supplying 3,000 housing units on the Seoul Medical Center site is unrealistic," adding, "We also consider it unreasonable from an urban management perspective."

Previously, Seoul announced in 2018 a plan to supply 800 housing units on the site, and the Ministry of Land expanded the scale to 3,000 units two years later through the 8.4 measures. Since taking office, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has expressed reluctance toward supplying 3,000 units, but this is the first time the city has officially announced its intention to reconsider. Deputy Mayor Ryu added, "At the time of the 3,000-unit announcement, I was acting mayor, so I had no choice but to passively follow the situation."

He continued, "Regarding the Seoul Medical Center site, we will communicate with Gangnam-gu based on the originally announced 800 units," and said, "Since 200 to 250 units were planned for the southern site, about 550 to 600 units are expected for the northern site." However, concerning Gangnam-gu's opposition to housing supply on the site, he drew a line by saying, "Some residential units must be included on any site."

Regarding the view that "3,000 half-price apartments (land leasehold housing)" will be supplied on the Seoul Medical Center site, he corrected, saying, "We have never said that." He also stated that it has not been decided whether the 800 units to be supplied on the site will be in the form of half-price apartments, calling it "one of several discussion options." The city plans to finalize detailed development plans by the second half of this year through discussions with autonomous districts, local residents, and experts.

Deputy Mayor Ryu also expressed willingness to broadly consult if the government raises the need for alternative sites to replace the 3,000 units. However, regarding the Guryong Village site proposed by Gangnam District Office, he said, "It will not be easy to reopen discussions on floor area ratio and zoning by revisiting the scale that was settled after long-standing conflicts." About the Cowon Energy Service site in Daechi-dong, he left room for possibility, saying, "The number of units may be higher than initially expected." He added, "There are not many public sites. If we proceed, we need to expand to private sites to meet the total volume."