Yongsan Station∼Yongsan Park Complex Development Reinitiated After 15 Years (Comprehensive)

Yongsan Gateway Basic Concept Project Launch
"Plan to Create a New Central Space"

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] Seoul City is creating the 'Yongsan Gateway' to utilize the site connecting Yongsan Station and Yongsan Park in a three-dimensional way, including underground spaces, and to strengthen connections with key hubs. This is essentially a revival of the 'Yongsan Link' plan announced 15 years ago but never realized. The city aims to link the park site with surrounding areas to connect pedestrian paths and green spaces, creating a complex cultural space that will transform the Yongsan Station area into a new central hub.

Seoul City announced on the 22nd that it will open a bidding notice for the 'Basic Plan for Yongsan Gateway Creation' project and start planning from March. The plan is to complete a pedestrian and green axis connecting Yongsan Park, Yongsan Station, Yongsan International Business District, and the Han River, and to enhance the symbolism of the junction with the virtual main street connecting Gwanghwamun, Seoul Station, Yongsan, and the Han River, thereby spreading synergy.

Currently, in front of Yongsan Station, there is Yongsan Station Plaza (approximately 7,600㎡), and in front of Yongsan Park, there is Yongsan Promenade (14,104.6㎡). Between them, a Media Plaza (6,043.2㎡) and a Cultural Park (17,635.3㎡) are planned. The Media Plaza will be developed in connection with the Shinbundang Line, and the Cultural Park is expected to be completed by December this year.

The Yongsan area is a place where the status and role as a political, economic, and cultural center are being strengthened, with the relocation of the Presidential Office, the return of the Yongsan Base, acceleration of Yongsan Park creation, and the full-scale development of the Yongsan International Business District project, raising public expectations. Accordingly, the city has set a plan to redraw the space as a three-dimensional area utilizing both underground and aboveground, beyond the flat park mainly focused on the surface.

This is essentially a re-promotion of the 'Yongsan Link' plan announced by Seoul City in 2008. At that time, the city announced plans to create an integrated three-dimensional space from three underground floors to two aboveground floors connecting Yongsan Station and Yongsan Park and proceeded with the project, but it was not realized due to the global financial crisis and the cancellation of the Yongsan International Business District urban development project. A Seoul city official said, "This time, to increase the feasibility of the project, we plan to prepare concrete implementation plans in cooperation with related organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Yongsan District."

The city plans to develop the park area into an integrated hub connecting public transportation and surrounding areas. Through the creation of the Yongsan Gateway, it will link key hubs such as Yongsan Park and the Yongsan International Business District and establish a pedestrian and green system that connects spaces severed by roads like Hangang-daero in a three-dimensional manner (aboveground and underground). Additionally, by utilizing the underground space of the park site in front of Yongsan Station, the city plans to expand multifunctional cultural facilities and prepare a proactive multifunctional space utilization plan considering future transportation plans such as the public transportation system and the Shinbundang Line.

Hong Seon-gi, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, said, "The Yongsan Gateway will become a core political, economic, and cultural space connecting major areas such as the International Business District and Yongsan Park. Through the creation of pedestrian and green axes and three-dimensional space utilization, we expect to maximize the efficiency of urban space and facilitate the linkage and expansion of urban functions."