Petition Against City Council Due to Negative Impact on Cultural Heritage
3,000 Residents of Gongneung-dong Sign
Public Hearing and Other Procedures Delayed
Plan to Supply 6,800 Households Disrupted
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] The public housing district project around Taereung Golf Course (CC) in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, is facing setbacks. Although it was included in the Moon Jae-in administration's August 4th plan with a supply of 6,800 housing units planned, resident opposition continues. The 3080+ urban complex project is also progressing slowly, raising concerns that the volume of public-led housing supply may change.
According to Seoul City on the 5th, the newly opened 11th City Council received its first petition titled "Opposition to the Designation of the Public Housing District around Seoul Taereung Golf Course in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu." City Councilor Park Hwanhee (Nowon 2), who submitted the first petition, stated that about 3,000 Gongneung-dong residents signed it.
The Moon administration announced a housing supply plan through the designation of a public housing district around Taereung Golf Course in its 2020 August 4th plan. Initially, 10,000 housing units were planned for the site, but due to issues such as green space preservation, low-density development, and traffic problems, the plan was revised to supply 6,800 units, a reduction of over 3,000 units. Instead, 3,100 alternative units were secured through the Suraksan Station transit-oriented urban complex project and urban regeneration projects within Nowon-gu. However, the designation process for the Suraksan Station transit-oriented area, one of the alternative sites, is also sluggish.
On the afternoon of the 4th at around 1:30 PM, citizens opposing the designation of the public housing district around Seoul Taereung Golf Course in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Photo by Hwang Seoyul
Due to residents' opposition, the plan to supply 6,800 units in the Taereung district is expected to face difficulties. Residents oppose the plan citing concerns such as the possible cancellation of Taereung and Gangneung's World Cultural Heritage designation, hopes for the creation of an ecological park, and traffic congestion. The initial goal to designate the district within the first half of this year was postponed to the second half due to delays in resident briefings and public hearings caused by local elections. The first public hearing scheduled for the 17th of last month was canceled due to resident opposition, further slowing the project. The second public hearing is planned for the 11th.
A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official stated, "We have conducted thorough environmental coalition evaluations and are preparing to ensure there is no impact on the Taereung and Gangneung landscape," adding, "Although not legally required, we are also preparing a UNESCO heritage impact assessment to minimize negative effects and proceed with the project."
The 3080+ urban complex project, another public-led supply policy of the Moon administration, is also progressing slowly. This project aims to supply a total of 196,000 housing units and has announced 76 candidate sites (totaling 100,000 units), but only 8 sites (about 13,000 units) have completed district designation. Earlier in May, Land Minister Won Heeryong stated, "Projects with low resident support will be removed," leading to speculation that the supply volume through this project may be adjusted.
Park Wongap, Senior Real Estate Specialist at KB Kookmin Bank, said, "Due to policy continuity, related projects will proceed under this government as well, but there will be a selection process within the project sites," adding, "It is likely that projects with feasibility will be prioritized."
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