[Interview] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong-gu Mayor: "A 50-Story High-Rise Facility Will Be Built Around Wangsimni Station, Becoming the Largest Commercial and Distribution Hub in the Northeast Area"

‘2040 Seongdong Urban Development Master Plan’ Announced: Completing the ‘Seongdong-gu Future Blueprint’ Centered on Four Core Spaces ▲Relocation of Old District Office and Seongdong Police Station in Wangsimni Area, Promotion of Attracting Large Corporations’ Headquarters and 4th Industrial Venture Companies ▲Focused Development of Business Town, New Administrative Town, Education Town, and Culture & Tourism Town Seoul’s Top Autonomous District Advancement

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “Mayongseong has laid the foundation to leap beyond the top 5 and become the best autonomous district in Seoul.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said in an interview with this publication, “After about four years of professional services, consultations, and dozens of discussions, we established the ‘2040 Seongdong Urban Development Master Plan,’ completing the future blueprint for Seongdong-gu.” He added, “In recent years, Seongdong-gu has achieved the most remarkable growth among Seoul’s autonomous districts, based on its unique potential such as the Seongsu-dong semi-industrial area, transportation hubs, and waterfront city. However, it is now at a turning point with high development potential, the GTX-C line stopping at Wangsimni Station, and the demolition of the Sampyo Remicon Seongsu factory. This will create future growth engines to lead the district for decades to come.”

The district’s master plan includes a strategy to focus on nurturing ‘four core spaces.’ The first that Mayor Jung highlighted is the creation of a ‘Business Town’ around the Wangsimni area. He explained, “Although the Wangsimni area, where the GTX-C line and the Dongbuk Line light rail will be newly established, is a station-area general commercial zone allowing buildings up to 50 floors, it currently shows inefficient land use focused on public administration functions and lacks development plans. We intend to maximize the advantage of the expanded metropolitan transportation function of Wangsimni Station and transform it into a business and commercial district.”

According to Seongdong-gu’s master plan, administrative institutions such as the district office, district council, and Seongdong Police Station near Wangsimni Station will all be relocated to the current site of Sowol Art Hall in Haengdang-dong. The vacated administrative sites will be expanded with commercial and business spaces to attract companies including venture firms in the 4th industrial sector, headquarters of large corporations, sales, cultural, and startup support facilities. Once realized, the Wangsimni Station area is expected to become the largest commercial and distribution hub in the northeastern region with high-rise buildings up to 50 floors.

The Sowol Art Hall site in Haengdang-dong will be transformed into a ‘New Administrative Town’ by consolidating the district office, district council, and Seongdong Police Station in one place. This concentration of administrative functions aims to improve the quality of public services and enhance convenience for residents. Mayor Jung said, “The Haengdang Urban Development Zone and the areas around Hanyang University and the former Deoksu High School site will be developed into an ‘Education Town’ linked with existing educational infrastructure. Currently, the Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center, the first of its kind nationwide, is located in the Haengdang Urban Development Zone. We plan to relocate the Seongdong-Gwangjin Education Support Office, Seongdong District Library, Sowol Art Hall, and Youth Training Center there to consolidate education and experiential functions.”

After Deoksu High School completes its final relocation in 2024, the site is planned to be developed into a ‘Future Education’ space. Connected to nearby Hanyang University, it will provide educational, cultural, and experiential opportunities for various age groups, aiming to become a representative complex educational and cultural facility in the northeastern region and a future educational hub of Seoul.

Additionally, the district unveiled a blueprint for the site following the demolition of the Sampyo Remicon Seongsu factory, which had been the largest local long-standing project. The plan is to develop the site into a ‘Culture and Tourism Town’ by linking it with the Seoul Forest’s equestrian training center, visitor center, the Han River, and Jungnangcheon waterfront to create complex cultural facilities, global entertainment companies, and tourist landmarks. When urban planning pre-negotiations for the factory site development proceed, it is expected that public contributions from development profits will sufficiently provide necessary local facilities.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “Based on this master plan, we will strive to achieve balanced development within Seongdong-gu and make it the most sustainable city in Seoul.”