The Fate of 'MiWorld' to Be Decided Soon... Busan City Building Review Confirmed on the 31st, Results Expected in Early November

A plan for the new residential lodging facility to be built on the Miworld site.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo, Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Doo-yeol] The fate of the former Miworld site, a theme park in Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, which had been left as an urban ruin for 10 years, is expected to be decided soon. With the Busan City architectural review schedule confirmed, the redevelopment plan for the former Miworld site is gaining momentum.

The Busan City Architecture Committee's final review of the plan to build a residential lodging facility on the 25,397㎡ site of 'Miworld' in Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, is scheduled for the 31st. The review will be conducted in one day, and the results are expected within a week thereafter.

A Busan City official stated that the architectural review, originally scheduled for the 25th, was postponed and decided to be held at the end of this month. Typically, the results of the city’s architectural review are released about a week later. Since building permits for buildings over 50 floors are decided by the city, the final permit for the 'Miworld' project, which is below that threshold, will be the responsibility of Suyeong-gu.

According to Busan City and the project implementers, a plan to construct two buildings with three underground floors and 42 floors above ground was submitted for the architectural review at the end of this month. The design was changed from the previously submitted plan last year, which included three buildings.

The project implementer, TI Busan PFV, purchased the site in 2019 and had been promoting the construction of a residential lodging facility consisting of three buildings. However, the project faced difficulties due to opposition and complaints from nearby residents citing 'view obstruction' and 'damage to natural scenery.'

TI Busan has been working to secure public benefits by proposing measures such as donating private land within Millak Amusement Park and installing shared spaces for residents to facilitate park use, aiming to persuade residents.

In December last year, Suyeong-gu rejected TI Busan’s architectural review application, leading TI Busan to file an administrative appeal with the Busan City Administrative Appeals Committee against Suyeong-gu, requesting cancellation of the rejection of the architectural committee review application.

On March 24, TI Busan’s appeal was accepted, opening the way for the construction plan. Subsequently, TI Busan revised the plan to reduce the number of buildings from three to two.

Considering the convenience of nearby apartment residents and their request not to place high-rise buildings in Mugunghwa Park, TI Busan decided to remove one building closest to the apartments from the three-building plan. Additionally, they increased the setback distance as requested by the apartment side according to the 2014 project approval plan and lowered the number of floors of the commercial building by one.

A TI Busan official said, “We are trying to proceed with the project by reflecting residents’ complaints as much as possible,” adding, “We will also accept residents’ requests for community facility construction, renovation of the main and back gates, and apartment painting.”

Regarding the redevelopment project of the former 'Miworld' site, there appear to be mixed views among nearby residents: some see it as a landmark for Suyeong-gu that will contribute to the local commercial district and increase residential value, while others are concerned about view and sunlight obstruction, traffic congestion, and environmental damage.

A TI Busan official said, “The construction sector has a significant effect on economic revitalization,” and emphasized, “Active interest and support from nearby residents and local governments are urgently needed for large-scale development projects that have long been unable to start construction.”

With various interests intertwined around the prime urban land overlooking the Suyeong River, Gwangalli Beach, and Haeundae, the Busan City decision is awaited with just ten days remaining.