The former Northern Legal Complex in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, will be transformed into an open, family-centered space specialized for children and adolescents, as well as a growth hub linked to youth entrepreneurship functions through strategic hub development.
On the 22nd, Seoul City announced that it will issue a bid announcement this month to commence the master plan establishment service for the strategic hub development of the former Northern Legal Complex in Gongneung-dong. The goal is to develop the underutilized former Northern Legal Complex in Gongneung-dong, which has limited usage, to contribute to revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs.
The former Northern Legal Complex in Gongneung-dong is a site (approximately 13,209.7㎡) that Seoul City decided to acquire from Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) after the Northern District Prosecutor's Office and Northern District Court relocated to the new building in Dobong-gu in 2010. In 2021, Seoul City and SH Corporation signed a sales contract at a purchase price of 97 billion KRW, with ownership expected to be fully transferred to Seoul City by 2026 after five years of installment payments.
Although the former Northern Legal Complex area is located in the station area of Taereungipgu Station, accessibility and visibility have been insufficient due to its location inside the block, and residents’ dissatisfaction has increased regarding the limited facility usage and restricted purposes introduced.
Following the relocation of the Northern Legal Complex, the local economy declined, and the site was left as an idle facility, prompting calls for countermeasures. However, no facilities capable of revitalizing the area have been introduced, and through remodeling, it is currently used as the Life History Museum, Women’s Craft Center, and Social Economy Support Center. Consequently, the need for regional revitalization linked with surrounding areas and the development of a new complex living hub has been raised.
Seoul City plans to develop the underutilized public land with weak regional impact into a new leisure, living, and cultural hub in the northeastern area of Seoul, creating a family happiness space centered on children and adolescents and an ‘open space’ in daily life. It also aims to establish a development direction to activate the Taereungipgu station area in connection with the target site.
Additionally, the site will be considered for uses that foster industries linked to the characteristics of the northeastern area, serving as a central point for balanced regional development in the northeastern living zone. Facilities that connect and support nearby university institutions located in Nowon-gu, Jungnang-gu, and Seongbuk-gu, as well as natural environments such as Jungnangcheon Stream, Mukdongcheon Stream, and Bonghwasan Mountain, will be introduced to create a vibrant city and generate good jobs by establishing a growth hub linked to youth entrepreneurship functions.
Hong Seon-gi, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, said, “We will proactively respond to future environmental changes to increase the utilization of underused sites and contribute to regional revitalization and improved resident convenience by creating a new complex living hub in the northeastern area.”
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