[Seoul's Future] Lee Hyun-gun "Giving Young People Economic Freedom Is the Key to the Future"

"There is no city as charming as this."

Lee Hyun-gun, CEO of the Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute, perceives Seoul as an enchanting space. During the day, busy office workers hustle through the streets, and at night, people admire the buildings creating beautiful nightscapes from N Seoul Tower. At lower elevations, there are ancient palaces. Foreigners dressed in colorful hanbok stroll through the narrow Bukchon streets after visiting the palaces, tasting various foods. According to Lee, there is no city as diverse as Seoul. He said, "What surprises foreigners the most when they tour Seoul is the coexistence of the past and the present," adding, "There is no doubt that Seoul is a city full of character." He emphasized that for Seoul’s future, issues such as housing for young people must be addressed to the extent that young people feel economically comfortable enough to want to live in Seoul. On the 30th of last month, Asia Economy met with CEO Lee at the Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute.

Lee Hyun-gun, CEO of Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute, is talking about the past and future of Seoul in his geography research institute office. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

Charming City 'Seoul'... Harmonious Blend of Nature and Cultural Environment

- What kind of city is Seoul?

▲It is a space where layered history is deeply embedded. Not only traces of the Joseon Dynasty but also the Japanese colonial period and post-liberation South Korea remain. If you are curious about who held power in this land and how they lived, head to Bukchon. If you want to see the rapidly developed South Korea, go to Gangnam, south of the Han River. Moreover, the vast Han River and the mountains surrounding Seoul offer diverse natural experiences that are hard to find anywhere else in the world. There is no city where nature and the cultural environment are so harmoniously balanced.

- Does the history Seoul holds still influence the city today?

▲Yes. Seoul’s history is closely intertwined with our lives. For example, Seoul Subway Line 1 was built based on the tram lines used during the Japanese colonial period. The route was designed to run from Incheon through Jemulpo and Noryangjin to Cheongnyangni to transport people and goods to the Incheon sea. It was natural that housing and apartments were developed around these areas. Additionally, Line 2 was created alongside Gangnam’s development, and Lines 3 and 4 became necessary due to the development of Gyeonggi Province.

Future policies will be similar. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon mentioned lifting height restrictions in areas such as the city walls area, Namsan, Yeouido, and Gangnam. These places have enjoyed history from the Joseon Dynasty through modern times. The city walls area relates to the Joseon era, Namsan and Yeouido to the Japanese colonial period, and Gangnam reflects the rapid development after liberation. The layered history proves the value of this land and shows the need for development. These areas will continue to accumulate new histories and increase their value.

Physically Not Expanding, but Growing with Transportation Development

Lee Hyun-gun, CEO of Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute, is holding a map of Hanyang from the late Joseon Dynasty period while speaking in his geography research institute office. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

- Seoul continues to expand. What history accompanies this expansion?

▲Originally, Seoul was surrounded by Bukaksan, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan mountains. This aligns with the Joseon Dynasty’s philosophy of harmonizing with the natural environment according to pungsu (geomancy). This size was sufficient for Hanyang to serve as the capital. During the Japanese colonial period, Seoul began to expand due to war. Japan started looking for land to transport supplies to China, where the war was ongoing, and deemed Yeouido suitable. Seoul began expanding to Yeongdeungpo. The airport that existed in Yeouido until 1958 is now Yeouido Park.

After the 1960s, as Korea developed, Seoul reached saturation. The size of old Hanyang could no longer accommodate the influx of people. The Park Chung-hee administration chose the area south of the Han River. To develop Gangnam, bridges connecting it to the north bank were built, and Gangnam was organized in a grid pattern. Unlike the winding streets of Bukchon, the roads in front of Gangnam Station stretch straight due to this history.

Most importantly, the culture near Bukchon was transplanted. A representative example is the 'educational capital' such as schools in Jongno-gu. Gyeonggi High School, Whimoon High School, and Seoul High School moved to Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, and Seocho-dong respectively. These areas are now extremely expensive. This shows that Bukchon’s culture was properly transplanted.

- Are there ways to positively utilize history?

▲Yes. Stories have the power to attract people. They do more than just provide experiences; they allow recipients to reinterpret and reproduce information. This leads to diversity. Even something as simple as the subway we ride could offer a richer experience if its history were explained in an easy and interesting way within the city of Seoul.

The culture derived from this is limitless. The first thing that comes to mind is tourism products. In one space, tourists can be explained the layered history from Hanyang to the Japanese colonial period and modern history. It also offers diverse experiences to Seoul residents. Knowing that the streets where they jog every morning were once paths for royal processions and that during the Japanese colonial period they were garages would be fascinating. The government and Seoul city should take a more active role in developing these stories.

- How far do you think Seoul will grow in the future?

▲I believe the physical space will not expand. Seoul’s system is now established. The risks involved in expanding further are heavier than before. Suppose Seoul includes area A of Gyeonggi Province into its administrative district to solve saturation. Then areas B, C, and D of Gyeonggi would demand inclusion as well. If it were a dictatorship like in the past, such interests could be ignored and implemented. But now, it is an era where interests must be coordinated. Since coordinating interests among people is practically impossible, Seoul will not grow larger.

However, Seoul’s effective area is expanding with transportation development. Narrowly, there is the Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX). During the selection of GTX routes, interests clashed sharply, and once construction was confirmed, land prices in those areas skyrocketed. People interpreted that although the administrative district name is not Seoul, these areas are effectively part of Seoul.

On a national scale, there is the KTX. I believe KTX has played a major role in concentrating human and material resources toward Seoul. In the past, if a Seoul office worker went to Busan, they had to spend one or two days there, including accommodation and dining, which meant spending money in Busan. Companies with resources even opened offices in Busan and hired local people. Now, there is no need for that. One can complete work in Busan and return in a day. Also, it is possible to enjoy fresh seafood from Busan in Seoul. Advanced technology somewhat satisfies the desire toward Seoul.

Desire as a Driving Force for Development and a Threat to Diversity... Young People Must Take the Lead

Lee Hyun-gun, CEO of Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute, is talking about the past and future of Seoul in his geography research institute office. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

- You mentioned desire. What role does desire play in Seoul?

▲Desire certainly allows us to dream about Seoul’s future. Proper desire is a driving force for development and injects diversity. Desire cannot be overcome anyway. We should not suppress the positive effects of desire. But excess is harmful. Excessive desire crushes others’ hopes. Wealth in the three Gangnam districts is already inherited. It is not much different from the past when yangban (aristocrats) in Bukchon passed down class and wealth to their children. Now, people merely envy it. But if this inequality continues, dissatisfaction will grow. If people resist, that would be fortunate. Otherwise, people might leave Seoul with only disappointment. Seoul clearly shows not only South Korea’s strengths but also its weaknesses.

Desire manifests through urban development. Personally, I hope development near Bukchon and ancient palaces is cautious. The standard is Naksan. If buildings taller than Naksan are built, the balance with the palaces will be broken. Imagine visiting a palace and looking up to see concrete buildings. It would feel suffocating. Desire could erase Seoul’s greatest advantage?the harmony of past and present.

- What kind of city should Seoul become in the future?

▲It should be a city with diversity. Seoul itself is developing and still a place with abundant jobs for young people. Until now, Seoul has had diversity based on its long history. But the residents will age in the future. People can enjoy Seoul’s capital without living there thanks to advanced technology. The needs of the elderly are limited and do not change rapidly. If not managed well, Seoul could become slow and uninspired. Dobong High School in Dobong-gu is undergoing consolidation in 2024 due to a decrease in school-age population. Without schools, children and young couples cannot live in that area.

I think the public sector’s role has become more important. Young people today cannot marry, have children, and live in Seoul on their own. To prevent desire?the driving force?from dying out and development from stopping, public intervention is necessary. To sustain such desire, the public sector must focus on young people. Young people must be given enough economic comfort to want to live in Seoul. I believe more radical means, such as public rental housing, should be provided so young people can own homes within Seoul. The economic comfort of young people is Seoul’s future.

Who is CEO Lee Hyun-gun? CEO Lee Hyun-gun researches historical geography, which deals with overlapping histories in spaces, through the Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute. He graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Geography Education and earned a master’s degree with a thesis on "Geographical Characteristics of Seongjeosimni in Early Joseon Hanyang" and a doctorate with a dissertation on "Urban Structure of Joseon Dynasty Hanyang" from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Geography. He serves as vice president of the Korean Historical Map Research Society and director of the Korean Cultural Historical Geography Society. His major works include "Walking Seoul with Old Maps," "Seoul, Beyond the Fortress," and "The Han River Island Mati." Currently, he operates the YouTube channel "Lee Hyun-gun Geography Research Institute," educating the public about Korea’s geography and history.