[The Future of Yongsan] The Forbidden Land Moves

①From the Past to Modern History, Yongsan Emerging During Major Transitions
Centered on the Three Pillars of Gwanghwamun, Yeouido, and Gangnam...Attracting Businesses and Capital
From Japanese Army to US Forces...Yongsan as the Starting Point of the Chun Doo-hwan Regime
From 51 Trillion Won Development to Underground Transportation System...Including Railway Undergrounding

Editor's NoteYongsan, which once held the 'forbidden land,' is entering a new turning point. The Yongsan US military base, which had been off-limits to the public for over a century, has transformed into Yongsan Park, a space for all citizens. With the relocation of the presidential office, Yongsan has established itself as the new center of power in South Korea, and development plans have also begun in earnest. There is also a growing demand for expanding its role as a center of history and culture. Despite being a 'prime piece of land' along the Han River connecting Namsan and the Han River in the heart of Seoul, it still harbors underdeveloped residential areas. Experts say that to enhance Seoul's global competitiveness as a city where power, business, history, and culture coexist, attention must be paid to Yongsan. In that sense, Yongsan is both the present and future of Korean cities.

Yongsan is the center of power in South Korea. From the moment President Yoon Suk-yeol chose to move to Yongsan, saying "space governs consciousness," Yongsan became the most important 'space' in modern history. Once known as the center of national defense for over a century, Yongsan now houses the residences of the three branches of government?legislative, executive, and judicial?as well as the presidential office representing the nation.

The birth was also anticipated. Regarding Yongsan (龍山), named for its dragon-like shape, Lee In-ro of the Goryeo Dynasty stayed in the study of Han-eon-guk within Yongsan and described the area as "the peaks winding and curling, resembling a blue dragon."

A panoramic view of Yongsan New Town during the Japanese colonial period. The area around Hangangno 3-ga, Yongsan-gu today (top) and Yongsan Station during the Japanese colonial period. Yongsan Station was originally built as a regular station on the Gyeongin Line in July 1900, but in November 1906, due to the Russo-Japanese War, it was changed to the starting station of the Gyeongui Line and was significantly rebuilt as a European-style two-story wooden building. [Courtesy of Yongsan History Museum]

Yongsan, Starting from Dragon-Shaped Mountain Ranges... Always Appearing at Major Turning Points in Korean History

Looking at historical records, the area around the Ministry of National Defense building, where the presidential office is now located, was included in 'Yongsan' only relatively recently. Originally, this area was just 'Dunjisan (屯芝山)' and a village within the southern district of Hansungbu during the Joseon Dynasty. The background of Yongsan's name, said to resemble a dragon, refers to the long mountain range stretching from Manlijae in the southwest of Seoul through Hyochang Park, Yongmaru Pass, Yongsan Cathedral, and Cheongam-dong.

The name has earned its reputation. Historically, as a strategic point attracting human and material resources, invading forces used this area as a military base or stronghold. It was the logistics base for the Goryeo Mongol army, the Japanese military base during the Imjin War in the Joseon era, the Qing army's base during the Imo Incident, and the Japanese landing site during the First Sino-Japanese War?all in Yongsan. The Republic of Korea Army Headquarters was also located in Yongsan until it moved to Gyeryongdae in 1989, along with the US Forces Korea Command.

Even in modern history, Yongsan appears at major turning points. During the October 26 Incident when former President Park Chung-hee was assassinated, Kim Jae-gyu, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, accepted Army Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa's request to "go to the Yongsan Army bunker," turning the car toward the Namsan CIA building. This marked the beginning of the Chun Doo-hwan regime.

The June Democratic Uprising, a large-scale nationwide citizen movement against the Chun Doo-hwan regime, was also sparked in Yongsan. The Namyang-dong National Security Planning Agency, where Seoul National University student Park Jong-cheol was detained, tortured, and died in January 1987, was located in Yongsan. Park Jong-cheol died on January 14, 1987, in interrogation room 509 after being subjected to physical assault, electric shocks, and water torture. The regime's excuse that he "died suddenly after a blow" enraged the public.

In the 2000s, Yongsan left painful historical marks. In the early hours of January 20, 2009, about 30 evictees and members of the National Evictees Union, protesting compensation measures for the redevelopment of Yongsan District 4, occupied the Namildang building in Hangang-ro 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, and clashed with police. A fire broke out, resulting in six deaths and 24 injuries in a tragic disaster.

On the night of October 29, 2022, the Itaewon tragedy occurred in Yongsan's Itaewon district, marking the largest loss of life in South Korea since the 2003 Daegu subway disaster (192 deaths) and the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking (304 deaths), with 159 fatalities.

Since the inauguration of the current Yoon Suk-yeol administration in May 2022, Yongsan has become the most frequently mentioned place in political history. The Blue House, which housed 12 presidents starting with the first president Syngman Rhee in 1948, has closed, and Yongsan has become the new political hotspot.

Overall view of Yongsan-gu in the 1990s (top), Yongsan Station Plaza in 2020 (middle), and a bird's-eye view of the Yongsan International Business District development plan. [Data provided by Yongsan-gu Office, Seoul City]

Overwhelming Geographical Advantage... Why Companies Gather and Investors Show Interest

The reason why present-day Yongsan is undergoing a major transformation lies in its overwhelming geographical advantages. It is located at the center of the three major urban axes: Gwanghwamun, the administrative and business center; Yeouido, the financial center; and Gangnam, the IT hub.

Yongsan has its own competitiveness. In terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), which can be considered the regional equivalent of GDP by city or province, Yongsan-gu ranked third in the northern Seoul area in 2021, following Jung-gu and Jongno-gu. This economic indicator reflects how much added value is generated by economic activities, indicating a healthy income circulation in the local economy.

This is partly due to the transportation infrastructure directly connected not only to all over South Korea but also to Incheon International Airport. Seoul Station, where trains bound for Gyeongsang-do and Chungbuk gather, and Yongsan Station, where trains bound for Jeolla-do and the west coast gather, are both located here. Essentially, Yongsan serves as a hub for urban functions, regional connectivity, and strengthening global competitiveness.

Because of this, companies have also chosen Yongsan. Major corporations such as Amorepacific, Hyundai Development Company, Samil Accounting Corporation, and LG Uplus, as well as entertainment companies like Sandbox and HYBE, have established offices here. The area is also known as the birthplace of Korea's confectionery industry. The three major domestic confectionery makers?Lotte Confectionery, Orion, and Haitai Confectionery?all started in Yongsan.

Investors have not overlooked Yongsan either. In Seobu Ichon-dong, also known as Ichon 2-dong, the largest project since the era of Dangun, the Yongsan International Business District development project, was finally canceled in 2014, leaving ongoing confusion. This stands in stark contrast to Dongbu Ichon-dong, where reconstruction was successfully completed sequentially during the same period.

In fact, the blueprint for the 'largest project since Dangun' had potential. In 2007, to reduce debt, Korail agreed to sell the land to Samsung C&T and others, and the Yongsan International Business District development began, combining it with nearby Seobu Ichon-dong. The project, with a total budget of 31 trillion won, included building the Yongsan Passenger Terminal and connecting the international business district to the Han River. However, it could not overcome the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis. The real estate market slumped, and funding became difficult, so the project was abandoned without breaking ground in 2013.

The next opportunity was also missed. This time, development was delayed as Yongsan was identified as a source of soaring housing prices. In 2018, then Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon announced a development plan for Yongsan but immediately suspended it due to signs of rising housing prices. Mayor Park held an emergency press conference, stating, "I fully agree with the government's position that housing market stability is the top priority for the housing security of ordinary people," and declared, "Considering the current severe real estate market situation, Seoul will postpone the announcement and promotion of the Yeouido and Yongsan master plans until the housing market stabilizes."

A 'City Within a City' Worth 51 Trillion Won Coming to Yongsan... Transportation Innovations Like UAM and Linking Park Underway

The future of Yongsan, as redrawn by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is a 'compact city' that integrates all functions necessary for work, leisure, culture, and rest. It begins with a large-scale project to develop an area of 500,000 square meters behind Yongsan Station all at once, creating a 'city within a city,' with an estimated project cost of 51 trillion won.

At the center of the business district, a landmark building with up to 100 floors, including an observatory and sky garden, will be constructed. To avoid repeating the failure of the 2010 private-led project, Korail and Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) will take charge of the project implementation.

Yongsan will also be the first to attempt changes in Seoul's transportation system. With the goal of becoming a 'carbon zero zone,' the plan aligns with the 2050 carbon neutrality target by introducing eco-friendly transportation and gradually restricting internal combustion engine vehicles to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

The plan to make Yongsan a 'mobility hub,' Seoul's first, encompassing railroads, roads, and future transportation modes like Urban Air Mobility (UAM), is a representative example. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to build a UAM station on land adjacent to Yongsan Station. UAM, represented by air taxis, maximizes mobility in congested cities by using air routes. The government is preparing a roadmap aiming for commercialization by 2025, and Seoul plans to operate a pilot UAM route connecting the Yongsan International Business District and Gimpo International Airport accordingly.

A major transformation of the previously distorted transportation network centered on Yongsan Base is also underway. The 'Yongsan Linking Park' project aims to restore traffic flow disrupted by the Yongsan Base by creating a transportation junction where major arterial routes converge beneath Yongsan Park. If realized, the 'Yongsan Linking Park' could appropriately disperse traffic flow around Yongsan Park, which will become the center of Seoul following the presidential office's move to Yongsan and the US military base's relocation to Pyeongtaek.

The 'Seoul Old Downtown Railway Undergrounding Project,' promoted at the pan-government level, has already entered substantive discussions. The section between Seoul Station and Yongsan Station is considered a key segment, and Seoul is preparing development plans for the area above the railway. The city is referencing domestic and international cases such as the 'Paris Rive Gauche Project,' which created an artificial ground connecting the slum area of the 13th district and the Seine River, revitalizing the city.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized, "The key keyword for Yongsan development is high technology, and competitiveness arises when foreign company expatriates and office workers can enjoy a pleasant urban life," adding, "Creating a space where business activities take place 24 hours a day, including leisure and cultural functions, is the greatest competitive advantage."

Seoul Station to Yongsan Station railway underground section. [Provided by Seoul City, etc.]

*Exterior view of Amorepacific Group headquarters located in Yongsan (left) and exterior view of HYBE headquarters. [Provided by Amorepacific Group, HYBE]