First Step Toward Creating Green Space on Songhyeon-dong Site for 'Lee Geon-hee Donation Hall'

Passed Seoul City Urban Architecture Joint Committee
Activation of Commercial and Cultural Functions Near G Valley

The site in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Gyeongbokgung Palace, has taken its first step toward creating a green space.

Green Plaza on the site of Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seoul City

Seoul City held the 5th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting on the 30th of last month and approved the revision of the ‘Bukchon District Unit Plan.’ The plan includes abolishing the special planning zone for the former U.S. Embassy staff dormitory on the Songhyeon-dong site (around lot 48-9, covering 36,903.3㎡) and designating it as a cultural park, parking lot, and cultural facility.

The Songhyeon-dong site is located at the center of historic spaces such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Square, as well as major administrative institutions including the Blue House, Constitutional Court, and embassies. It is also recognized as the core space of domestic history and culture, with a concentration of major museums, art galleries, and performance halls, making it the heart of Seoul’s downtown tourism belt.

Im Chang-su, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, stated, “Considering the historical and cultural value of Songhyeon-dong, we plan to provide it as a green space for all citizens along with the Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall (tentative name). We will create an open complex cultural space where nature and culture harmonize, while expanding infrastructure to alleviate downtown parking shortages.”

At the same meeting, the ‘Guro Digital Complex Station District Unit Plan revision’ was also approved.

The target area is located south of Guro Digital Complex Station on Subway Line 2, close to the G-Valley National Industrial Complex. It includes a food alley within the district, making it a busy area with many workers and commercial visitors during commuting hours.

This district unit plan revision aims to establish land use and density plans that suit the characteristics of the station area, activate commercial and cultural functions, and strengthen its status as a metropolitan center as well as its support functions for G-Valley.

A Seoul City official said, “Through this, we expect to make the living areas of Gasan and Daerim metropolitan centers more vibrant and to promote urban planning management.”