Breaking Down the East-West Barrier Unveils a '100-Year History' [Yongsan's Future]

⑩ Yongsan Park, 300㎡ Area Larger Than Yeouido
More Than Urban Green Space Creation, Historical and Cultural Significance
Preserving 100-Year-Old Architecture and River Scenery

A park larger than Yeouido, located on flat land in the heart of Seoul. South Korea's first national park. A "forbidden land" where civilian access was restricted for over a century. Yongsan Park, known by countless nicknames, is awaiting its birth. Yongsan-gu has long faced the problem of east-west division due to the U.S. military base located in the middle. Even near the numerous "hot spots" that have sprung up around Yongsan, such as Haebangchon and SinYongsan, it is not uncommon to see the base's boundary and fences blocking the way after just a short walk.

Therefore, Yongsan Park, which will be built by tearing down the fences and replacing the former base, holds a meaning beyond simply being a "large green space in the city." Unlike the base, Yongsan Park will have open boundaries in all directions, serving as a passage connecting nine adjacent subway stations and neighborhoods, and a space where traces of history from 100 years ago remain.

Yongsan Park International Competition Winning Development Plan Bird's-eye View Rendering

How Did the Base Become a 'Park'?

For over a century, the site of Yongsan Park was the "history of the base." Looking back, during the Imjin War in the 1500s, the Japanese army used it as a logistics base, and in 1882 during the Imo Incident, Qing Dynasty troops were stationed there. From around 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War until liberation in 1945, it was a major military base for the Japanese army. From that time, Japan used the Yongsan Park site as the "Joseon Garrison Command" headquarters, prohibiting civilian access. After liberation, the U.S. 24th Infantry Division took over the Japanese base. With the U.S. military stationed in Yongsan for a long time, the surrounding area became symbolically known as a place where foreign culture could be easily enjoyed.

When the relocation of the U.S. military base in Yongsan became known, discussions about "how to use the vacant land" were triggered. In 1990, the Korea-U.S. Basic Agreement on the relocation of the U.S. military base to Pyeongtaek was signed, and in 2003, the agreement was finalized. The government began studying how to utilize the land that would return to the people after 100 years.

Former President Roh Tae-woo, who pledged the return of the Yongsan base, initially instructed to consider "parkification," so the idea of creating a park was somewhat a consensus. However, there were also strong claims that part of the land should be developed as urban park space. Some argued that instead of turning all the precious land near the Han River and in the center of Seoul into a park, some office space should be created and utilized. Gradually, the concept of an "ecological park" gained attention, and it was decided that Yongsan Park would be developed as a park preserving ecology, encompassing historical and cultural parks.

The basic plan for Yongsan Park is outlined in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "Comprehensive Basic Plan." Once the U.S. military completes the land return, the park construction will begin accordingly. The government aims to complete the park construction seven years after the land return is finalized. In 2020, additional sites such as the National Museum of Korea and Yongsan Family Park were incorporated into the Yongsan Park site, and the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site and military housing site were newly added, expanding the park area to about 3 million square meters. Accordingly, the comprehensive basic plan was revised for the third time in 2022. Authorities explain that the basic plan can be revised frequently depending on land return, partial openings, and changes in the Yongsan vicinity. For example, the third revision does not include the 2022 presidential office relocation. New areas such as the partially opened 5th Officers' Quarters and Yongsan Children's Garden may also be opened.

A 'Small City' from 100 Years Ago Remains

Except for the partially opened areas, the interior of Yongsan Park remains largely unexplored. This also means that preservation of the past is well maintained. Although it is called a "park," the base still resembles a "small city" with about 1,000 buildings remaining. Buildings from the early 1900s built by the Japanese army and those constructed after the U.S. military's stationing can be found here. This is where Yongsan Park holds historical significance. Authorities are currently conducting surveys of the facilities within the base, evaluating historical value, structural safety, and harmony with the surroundings to decide whether to preserve and reuse or demolish the buildings.

The first area opened to the public, the 5th Officers' Quarters, is an architectural site where one can glimpse the lifestyle culture of the U.S. military, different from Korean culture. Opened in August 2020, the 5th Officers' Quarters were built on land returned from the U.S. military in 1986 by the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH)'s predecessor, the Korea Housing Corporation, which constructed and leased the quarters. Unlike domestic residential apartments that traditionally prefer "south-facing," the buildings face each other on three sides around a centrally located parking lot. It consists of 16 housing units and 2 management facilities, currently remodeled for use as exhibition halls and rest areas. A Yongsan Park official explained, "It was selected as the first partially opened site because it shows the character of the U.S. military base and is easily accessible to the public," adding, "In the future, only some buildings are being considered for preservation."

Partially opened Yongsan US military base officer housing complex 5./Photo by Yongsan Park Development Promotion Planning Group website

One of the historically valuable buildings is the "Yongsan Detention Prison," completed in 1909. This prison is the only remaining Japanese military prison in South Korea. The brick walls surrounding the prison, as well as some buildings used as administrative facilities, shower rooms, and restrooms, remain intact, making it the most important historical site. Considering its historical value, plans are being reviewed to utilize the detention prison as a park facility while preserving its original form as much as possible.

Within the Yongsan base, not only buildings but also the history of a "stream" from 100 years ago remains. Recently, most streams in Seoul have been modernized. Many streams in Seoul were covered in the 1960s, and it was only in the 2000s that the Cheonggyecheon restoration project restored the waterway. Mancho Stream, which flows from the foothills of Inwangsan Mountain through Yongsan to the Han River, can currently only be seen inside the Yongsan base. It remains in its original uncovered form, quite different from the streams seen in the city such as Cheonggyecheon. There are remnants such as a rainbow-shaped arch bridge and stone embankments used for reinforcement, allowing one to imagine the appearance of streams in the Joseon-era Hanyang Fortress.

The tributary of Mancho Stream flowing within the base meets the main stream at the lower part of the Camp Kim site on the left side of the Yongsan Park site. The comprehensive basic plan for Yongsan Park includes restoring the covered Mancho Stream to create a water space. A Seoul city official explained, "When the Camp Kim complex facility plan was established, the restoration of the confluence of the Mancho Stream tributary and main stream was included in the 2022 Yongsan District Unit Plan public notice."

A tributary of Mancho Stream within the Yongsan US military base. / Photo by Yongsan Park Development Promotion Planning Group website

The Key is 'Base Return'... Schedule Uncertain

However, to meet Yongsan Park, which holds historical and cultural significance, as soon as possible, the return of the U.S. military base must precede. So far, only about 31.4% of the Yongsan base area has been returned. The unreleased areas cannot even be properly surveyed for buildings. Since the Yongsan base development work is based on "post-return," the sooner the return happens, the sooner pollution cleanup, construction, and park development can begin.

A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official said, "At the government-wide level, plans for when and how much land will be returned are still undecided," adding, "The U.S. military has not shared its base closure plans with our government." The official explained that if the Korean government sets a fixed return date, it would weaken negotiation power regarding cleanup costs and defense cost-sharing, so they cannot set the schedule independently. The official said, "Because the return is slow, only plans for how to develop Yongsan Park are being drawn, but actual development is not happening," and "There is internal and external demand to receive the return quickly so that the public can feel the effects."

Editor's NoteYongsan, which held the "forbidden land," is entering a new turning point. The Yongsan U.S. military base, which was off-limits to the public for over a century, has transformed into Yongsan Park, a space for all citizens. With the presidential office relocation, it has established itself as the new center of power in South Korea, and development plans have begun in earnest. There are also ongoing demands to expand its role as a center of history and culture. Despite being a prime "golden land" along the Han River connecting Namsan and the Han River in the heart of Seoul, it still contains 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 represents both the present and future of Korean cities.