[The Future of Seochon]⑮ "It Should Be a Neighborhood Where People Come to Live, Not Just to Visit"

Jang Minsu, Representative of Seochon Residential Space Research Association

Currently, the main residential areas in Seoul are generally located outside the Four Great Gates, but originally, many people lived within the city walls. The hanoks remaining in areas such as Seochon, Gahoe-dong, and Ikseon-dong are evidence of this. As Seoul underwent changes, these areas were rapidly encroached upon by commercial facilities. Seochon is still a region that preserves its residential function to some extent, and the diverse and vivid voices of residents speaking about the 'future of Seochon' are proof of this.

Jang Minsu, the representative of the Seochon Residential Space Research Association, a group of Seochon residents who have been involved in alley cleaning, alley gardens, and preserving the Suseongdong Valley, says that the future of Seochon depends on preserving and developing its residential function. Seochon residents wander narrow alleys late at night looking for parking lots, and there is a severe shortage of playgrounds where children can play freely. He hopes that people will continue to live in Seochon and that even more people will come to live there in the future.

-- What is the reason that residential areas in Seochon cannot increase?

▶ It is regulation. Seochon has been subject to regulations even stronger than those of national parks or green belts since its establishment. This transcends political parties and ideologies. From the era of President Park Chung-hee to Mayor Park Won-soon, regulations suppressing local residents have continued.

-- Seochon is a historic place. Given the significant reasons for preservation, isn’t the validity of regulation justified?

▶ I am not opposed to preservation policies. The problem is that while imposing such strong regulations for preservation, the burden and responsibility are entirely shifted onto the residents. For example, public institutions located in Seochon are established without much regulation. Meanwhile, residents living there face numerous regulations when remodeling their homes or increasing floors. Various regulations imposed on Seochon ultimately alienate the residents. We are not asking for skyscraper apartments to be built in Seochon. If the government deems strong regulations necessary, it should provide corresponding compensation.

-- What kind of compensation could be possible?

▶ To allow more people to live in Seochon, the land must be utilized as much as possible. However, unlike other areas, you cannot and should not build 10 or 20-story apartments in Seochon. This inevitably affects business feasibility. Unlike typical redevelopment or reconstruction, incentive measures such as adjusting the donation ratio could be considered. If height cannot be increased due to unavoidable regulations, at least the donation requirement should be exempted.

-- There might be controversies about special favors.

▶ The government might raise fairness issues, but if so, I want to ask why the fairness of regulations is not considered. Other approaches are possible. One characteristic of Seochon is that public assets and facilities occupy a significant portion of the land. However, these places are operated without any relation to the local residents. When you climb Inwangsan at night and look down at Seochon, the places with lights off are unrelated to residents. Residents come home from work and turn on their lights.

Jang Minsu, Representative of Seochon Residential Space Research Association

-- How can public facilities be utilized?

▶ There is an immediate lack of basic facilities such as parking lots and playgrounds. Residents come home late at night and circle around the village looking for parking. Yet, beyond the walls of public facilities occupying a large site in the middle of Seochon, you can hear the sound of tennis balls being hit. From the residents’ perspective, this is infuriating. The restoration and maintenance project of Sajikdan has even eliminated playgrounds. Some residents leave the village, saying it is difficult to raise children here. No alternatives have been proposed for the lost facilities. Jongno is called the 'political number one district,' and many prominent figures run for election there, but the reality is that they cannot even create a single playground.

-- The Blue House can also be seen as a remaining public facility. How should it be utilized?

▶ I am listening with interest to various stories currently circulating in the media. Ideas such as museums, performance halls, and libraries all make sense. The facility is so large that it is difficult for residents to use. Personally, I think attracting a university could be an alternative. Other public facilities could be used as dormitories or rental housing.

-- There are many voices demanding the expansion of Seochon’s residential function. However, the hanoks lining Seochon have relatively low residential density. How should preservation and development be balanced?

▶ Even if residential functions and infrastructure are improved, the existing residential functions and environment of Seochon must be preserved. Seochon is a place where the history of modern and contemporary Korean housing remains. There are Joseon Dynasty hanoks, houses built during the Japanese colonial period, villas and apartment buildings from the high-growth era, and even the latest architectural structures scattered throughout. Seochon is a historic place where all types of modern and contemporary Korean housing converge. Even a single villa is worth considering whether to remodel or rebuild.

CEO Jang Minsu

-- Are you saying it is okay if newly built houses are not hanoks?

▶ Yes. As long as the style harmonizes with Seochon’s history and scenery, there is no need to insist only on hanoks. I also question whether the regulations applied to hanoks are appropriate. Traditional hanoks require long eaves, but due to regulations, eaves are shortened, resulting in distorted hanoks. There are many conditions to follow to receive hanok subsidies, which tends to standardize hanoks.

Residents living in villas next to hanoks have other complaints. They live in the same neighborhood, but some receive residential improvement support funded by taxes, while others are excluded simply because they live in villas. They face the same regulations, though. Public support is needed for all types of housing in Seochon, not just hanoks. However, to prevent indiscriminate development, the government should provide guidelines. Within these, various housing supply methods can be considered.

-- How should the future of Seochon be envisioned?

▶ Residential function must be central. I recently visited Hongdae and thought, 'Is Hongdae the future of Seochon?' Hongdae now has almost no residential areas. Even near the Gyeongui Line railroad, there used to be many residential facilities, but now they have all been replaced by commercial facilities. Seochon is virtually the only area in Seoul where various types of housing, including hanoks, remain. We must protect those living there and make it a neighborhood where people from other areas willingly want to live. Seochon’s competitiveness lies in the fact that 'people live there.'