Expansion of the Banghak Station Area Development Zone... Resolving Development Imbalance on East and West Sides of Dobong-ro

Expansion of District Unit Planning Area to Include Aging Residential Area on the West Side of Dobong-ro

Location Map of the Vacant Station Area District Unit Planning Zone/Photo by Seoul City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] The district unit planning area around Banghak Station on Line 1 in Dobong-gu, Seoul, has been expanded westward to the west side of Dobong-ro. This is to resolve the development imbalance between the east and west sides of Dobong-ro and to prepare for the extension of the Uisinseol Line.

On the 25th, Seoul City held the 8th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee and announced on the 26th that it had approved the revision of the district unit planning area and plan for the Banghak Station area. The main contents include the expansion of the district unit planning area to the west side of Dobong-ro, the designation of areas where land use zones can be adjusted and special planning zones, and the establishment of development guidelines. The Banghak Station district unit planning area covers 3.76 million square meters around Banghak Station on Line 1.

With the designation of areas where land use zones can be adjusted and special planning zones, along with the development guidelines, it is now possible to promote the upgrading of land use zones on the west side of Dobong-ro when establishing detailed development plans. Currently, this area shows a development imbalance between the east and west sides centered on Dobong-ro. The east side is designated as heavy industry, semi-residential, neighborhood commercial, and third-class general residential areas, with many large-scale retail facilities and hotels, whereas the west side is mainly second- and third-class general residential areas with concentrated old low-rise residential buildings.

The guidelines also include management plans for infrastructure to establish a transfer system near the existing Banghak Station in preparation for the extension of the Uisinseol Line (scheduled to start construction in 2024), for which the basic plan is currently being established.

A Seoul City official stated, “The reorganization of the district unit plan will serve as an opportunity to resolve the regional development imbalance between the east and west sides centered on Dobong-ro,” and added, “As part of the comprehensive revision of Seoul’s district unit plan establishment standards, the application of the revised ‘Private Sector Implementation Guidelines’ will allow local governments to operate more flexibly in the future.”