[Seoul's Future] Hwang Pyeong-woo "Seochon is the Center of Korean Culture, Politics, and Power"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Hwang Pyeong-woo, director of the Korea Cultural Heritage Policy Research Institute, described Seochon in Seoul on the 16th as "the center of Korean culture, politics, power, and art" under the theme of "Historical Reflection and Grand Design."

On the same day, at the '2022 Seoul Future Forum' hosted by Asia Economy in Maehwa Hall on the 19th floor of the Press Center in Jung-gu, he spoke on the theme of 'The Future of Seoul, The Future of Seochon,' saying, "From the standpoint of preserving historical cultural assets, I hope real estate speculation in Seochon will be regulated." In his keynote speech titled "Historical Reflection and Grand Design," he said, "Seochon is a place that can be proudly presented anywhere," and added, "The current state in which Seochon residents live should be maintained."

Hwang argued that Seochon should be designated as a kind of development-restricted zone. He said, "There may be restrictions on property rights, but institutional support such as indirect monetary compensation and exemption from children's education expenses is necessary for Seochon residents." He also added, "People who preserve cultural and historical identity should be considered national merit recipients."

Hwang explained that it is necessary to trace back Seochon's history to the Goryeo Dynasty, when Seoul was the capital, rather than just the Joseon Dynasty. He said, "Seochon’s streets were established since the time of Namgyeong in Goryeo," and added, "I hope historical facts related to Goryeo regarding Seochon will be acknowledged." At the same time, he elaborated, "Seochon became a gathering place for people who created the core ideology of culture during the Joseon Dynasty," and said, "You can think of it as the headquarters of the Joseon era."

Hwang also advocated for abolishing road name addresses within Seochon. He said, "For example, Tongil-ro extends from Seoul Station to Paju in Gyeonggi Province," and added, "It is unclear where it actually is, and all historical culture disappears. Road name addresses are not part of our country’s concept of area but rather Western culture."

Hwang stated that many hanok (traditional Korean houses) in Seochon are not well-built compared to Korean tradition. He said, "Strictly speaking, Seochon hanok are not well constructed," and speculated, "During the Japanese colonial period, people who built boats in Mapo may have built houses here to avoid forced labor, which became the current Seochon hanok." Nevertheless, Hwang emphasized, "Hanok in Seochon represent an important trend in the flow of hanok housing," and said, "They are a major subject for research."