'Redevelopment Boom' Will Announcer Kim Dae-ho's Shantytown House Transform into a New Apartment?

Integrated Development of Hongje-dong 'Gaemimaeul' Area Underway
Key Issue: Whether Zoning Will Be Upgraded

MBC announcer Kim Dae-ho's revelation of the Hongje-dong residential area on the variety show "I Live Alone" has brought attention to the development of Seoul's shantytown, which is now becoming a reality.

Photo by MBC Broadcast Screen Capture

According to the maintenance industry on the 15th, Seodaemun-gu has decided to redevelop Hongje-dong Ant Village by integrating it with the Hongje 4 redevelopment cancellation zone and the cultural village area that was excluded from public redevelopment, through a rapid integrated planning process. Last month, consent forms for the rapid integrated planning candidate site were distributed to landowners, and a residents' briefing session was also held.

Ant Village is a shantytown formed about 70 years ago when refugees gathered during the Korean War (6.25 War), and it is one of Seoul's representative aging residential areas. Since the development restriction zone was lifted in 2006, development has been attempted several times, but progress was always stalled due to complex ownership relations and low project feasibility.

The key to development is whether zoning can be upgraded. Ant Village and its surroundings are all classified as Type 1 General Residential Areas with a floor area ratio of only 150%. Currently, only low-rise housing such as multi-family, row houses, and single-family homes up to four stories can be built. Seodaemun-gu is known to be discussing zoning upgrades with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Lee Seong-heon, mayor of Seodaemun-gu, appointed a chief planner who is an urban planning expert and integrated areas that are difficult to develop individually to prepare an integrated development plan tailored to the characteristics of each area. Considering the hilly terrain and lack of project feasibility, the district plans to establish a rational land use plan and improve project feasibility through zoning upgrades.

The mayor stated, "Ant Village is an area urgently needing residential environment improvement due to vulnerability to fire and concerns about stone wall collapse. We will provide active administrative support to ensure that the project can proceed through rapid integrated planning redevelopment this time."