Oh Se-hoon, Soothing Mapo Residents with the Reopening of Sangam DMC Landmark?

Seoul City Announces Plan to Supply 4 Trillion Won Worth of Sanggam-dong DMC Landmark Site in March

Interest Grows Over Whether Residents of Mapo-gu Will Be Pacified Amid Construction of Sanggam-dong Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As Seoul City is expected to announce a plan in March to supply the Sanggam-dong DMC landmark site worth 4 trillion won, residents of Mapo-gu are highly anticipating it.

The city is reportedly set to begin concrete projects, including selecting a preferred negotiation partner in July.

This announcement marks the resumption of the project after 11 years, raising great expectations among Mapo-gu residents.

Accordingly, there is also interest in whether Seoul City can somewhat alleviate the dissatisfaction of Mapo-gu residents caused by the construction of the Sanggam-dong Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility (recycling processing plant).

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Greatly 'Welcomes' the Plan

First, Mayor Park Gang-su stated, “Seoul City’s plan to re-promote the DMC landmark project, a long-cherished project for local development by residents, is something to be welcomed with open arms,” adding, “It is the result of the intense efforts and sweat of the district and residents to promote local development and resolve residents’ long-standing issues.”

He especially noted, “Since the initial land supply announcement, the site has been left idle for nearly 19 years, damaging the surrounding residential environment, and the project had been stalled for 11 years, remaining a long-cherished project for residents of Sanggam-dong and Mapo-gu,” adding, “With the project resuming, DMC is expected to once again become a hub for Seoul’s media industry and the economic center of the northwest region.”

The district judged that the failure to develop a cutting-edge industrial site suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era for a long time is not only a loss for the northwest area of Seoul but also a missed opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of South Korea.

Therefore, to ensure the revitalization of the local economy and improvement of the surrounding environment proceed swiftly, the district has meticulously checked and monitored the project’s progress every month. It has also continuously requested related Seoul City departments for prompt project advancement, including finalizing development plans, maintaining steady consultations.

Furthermore, the district has expressed its position to actively cooperate with Seoul City’s landmark development plan. Once a developer is selected through land sale, the district plans to promptly and actively support administrative procedures such as urban management plan changes and building permits.

Mayor Park said, “Sanggam DMC, a cluster of advanced IT and media industries, is a core area of the Fourth Industrial Revolution where culture and science technology converge to create dazzling and rich attractions. The landmark will represent the centrality and symbolism of DMC,” adding, “Mapo-gu will do its best to ensure that the Sanggam DMC landmark project is promptly promoted through organic cooperation with Seoul City so that residents’ longings can be resolved as soon as possible.”

Some Mapo-gu Residents View the Project as an Attempt to Pacify Dissatisfaction Over Sanggam-dong Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility Construction

It is true that some Mapo-gu residents see the resumption of Seoul City’s Sanggam-dong DMC landmark project as an attempt to soothe dissatisfaction regarding the construction of the recycling processing facility.

Among Mapo-gu residents, there have been voices requesting the extension of the subway to Sanggam-dong in connection with the construction of the Nanji-do recycling facility.

However, since subway construction requires enormous funds and seems difficult, some speculate that the resumption of the Sanggam-dong DMC landmark building construction is indirectly aimed at appeasing the residents of Sanggam-dong.

The issue is that only after Seoul City announces specific plans for the Sanggam-dong DMC construction will it be possible to weigh the future impact on the local area.