Full-Scale Development of Upper Park Following the Undergrounding of Gukhoe-daero

The project to create a park on the surface following the undergrounding of Gukhoe-daero is set to accelerate. On the 14th, Seoul City held a joint urban architecture committee meeting and approved the original plan for the district unit planning zones around Gukhoe-daero and three other district unit planning zones, the city announced on the 15th.

The target areas include four district unit planning zones encompassing Gukhoe-daero in the areas of Hwagok-dong in Gangseo-gu, Sinwol-dong, Sinjeong-dong, and Mok-dong in Yangcheon-gu: ‘Gukhoe-daero Surrounding District Unit Planning Zone’, ‘Mok-dong Intersection Living Area Center District Unit Planning Zone’, ‘Mok-dong Five-way Intersection District Unit Planning Zone’, and ‘Seoul Mok-dong District Residential Development Project District Unit Planning Zone’.

This plan is part of the park creation project on the surface section (from the entrance of Singang Elementary School to the Seoul Mokdong Youth Center section) following the undergrounding of Gukhoe-daero. It includes designating a park (83,994㎡) as an urban planning facility overlapping with roads within the four district unit planning zones along the park creation section.

The Seoul City Parks Creation Division plans to announce the park creation plan for public inspection once the proposal is officially decided and announced. A Seoul City official stated, "Through this park creation plan, we expect to create a pleasant urban environment where the city of Seoul, like a garden, can be enjoyed throughout all four seasons by establishing a park above the Gukhoe-daero underground road."

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, the designation of a special planning zone and detailed development plan for the construction of long-term rental housing near the station area in Seokchon-dong, Songpa-gu, was also approved with modifications. The plan involves building apartment complexes approximately 100 meters high with around 300 households near Seokchon Station, a transfer station for subway lines 8 and 9. Seoul City aims to supply small- and medium-sized housing for one- and two-person households and urban housing close to workplaces in ultra-station areas.

Additionally, public open spaces and pocket parks will be created within the target area to provide low-rise floors as resting and green spaces for citizens.

A Seoul City official said, "We will strive to contribute to the residential stability of ordinary citizens by supplying high-quality long-term rental housing while developing the station area reflecting the characteristics of the Jamsil metropolitan center and local demand."

The amendment to the district unit planning decision for the Baebong Living Area Center in 314-1 Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, was also approved with modifications. This site was designated as an urban planning facility (bus stop) in 1978 but lost its function as a bus garage after 2000 and has been used as a taxi garage. With this decision, the function as a bus stop was lifted. A Seoul City official said, "By lifting the urban planning facility designation within the district unit plan, we have created an opportunity to renovate old buildings in the area and improve the urban environment by undergrounding the taxi garage."