[Yongsan's Future] Kang Byung-geun, Seoul Chief Architect: "Yongsan to Become a Complex Vertical City, Experience 'Seoul 100 Years Later' in Advance"

"Yongsan, Not a Future Seoul Suburb but the Center,
The Pillar for Becoming the World's Top City"
A Different Dimension of Downtown from Gangnam and Yeouido
50㎥ Green Space within the International Business District
"A Plan Unmatched Anywhere in the World"

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 general 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 the Republic of Korea, and development plans have also officially begun. There are ongoing demands to expand 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 this sense, Yongsan represents both the present and future of Korean cities.

In the past, the center of Joseon was limited to the Four Great Gates, but in the future, Yongsan will be included alongside the Four Great Gates as the center of Seoul. The Four Great Gates will serve as the center of history and culture, while Yongsan will play the role of boosting Seoul's international competitiveness.

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul Metropolitan Government, who oversees Seoul's spatial and environmental projects, explained in an interview with Asia Economy on the 4th, "Yongsan will not be a suburb of future Seoul but will become a core, playing a crucial role in Seoul's rise as the world's top city."

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul Metropolitan Government, explained in an interview with Asia Economy held at Seoul City Hall on the 4th, "Yongsan will become an important axis for Seoul to rise as the world's leading city by becoming part of the future downtown area of Seoul, not its outskirts." Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

The core area is the ‘Yongsan International Business District.’ It refers to the Yongsan Maintenance Depot area, which will be filled with landmarks around 100 stories tall and approximately 500,000㎡ of green space. This district development project is the first case of Seoul’s urban planning transitioning to a ‘urban spatial structure system.’ Only the total density (floor area ratio) is fixed, while the uses are planned independently by the developer. Through this, the Yongsan International Business District will become the first ‘walkable everyday city’ where work, leisure, and residence are all integrated within one space. Previously, cities were composed by dividing land into residential, business, and commercial zones by use.

Chief Architect Kang said, "The Seoul city government is creating a master plan to organize the entire city into about 50 future-type ‘walkable everyday cities.’ The Yongsan International Business District is a ‘barometer’ where you can experience Seoul 100 years from now. It is a completely different level of downtown compared to existing Gangnam and Yeouido."

The Yongsan International Business District will also be composed as Seoul’s first ‘multi-layered complex vertical city.’ This refers to a three-dimensional city composed of multiple layers such as underground, ground, and aerial levels, rather than a single horizontal layer. The ‘Sky Trail’ being constructed in the Yongsan International Business District is a representative architectural structure symbolizing this concept. The 1.1 km-long pedestrian bridge will serve not just as a path for movement but as a bridge for diverse experiences.

The residential form in this district will be designed to absorb global demand. Chief Architect Kang said, "The residential form in Yongsan will be multi-layered and three-dimensional, unlike anything experienced before. Since it is an ‘international’ business district, it will reflect global demand beyond Korea." He added, "Seoul’s housing prices, education costs, and living expenses are excessively high, and commuting and school travel distances are long, causing it to lag behind foreign cities in terms of ‘quality of life.’ As more walkable everyday cities like the Yongsan International Business District emerge, the quality of life for Seoul citizens and the city’s dignity will naturally improve."

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul Metropolitan Government, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at Seoul City Hall on the 4th. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

The green space will be created on a scale of about 500,000㎡, comparable to the project site (495,000㎡). This will be implemented as a public space. Not only residents but also citizens who do not live there and global community members can enjoy parks, plazas, alleys, and streets. Chief Architect Kang emphasized, "Simply put, it means providing a space as large as Gwanghwamun Square or Seoul Grand Park," adding, "There is no other city in the world that has planned and created such a city."

Yongsan Park will be realized as Seoul’s representative park. He said, "Yongsan Park is Seoul’s central park competing with global cities. If New York has Central Park and London has Hyde Park, Seoul has Yongsan Park."

Chief Architect Kang sees the green spaces within the International Business District and Yongsan Park as the foundation for Seoul to rise as the world’s best city. He said, "Technology can be matched at similar levels, but nature is a unique and differentiated heritage that other countries cannot replicate. Seoul is made up of 43.8% natural areas such as mountains, rivers, and parks. It is a city created based on irreplaceable emotional elements."

Projects to create walkable everyday cities like the Yongsan International Business District proceed with private sector-led planning, execution, and investment within the fixed floor area ratio. The city’s role is only to coordinate and manage the plans made by the private sector. The city plans to systematize the master plan to ensure its long-term sustainability. Chief Architect Kang stated, "We plan to establish a separate management organization or body so that the project can continue sustainably even if personnel change."

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul Metropolitan Government, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at Seoul City Hall on the 4th. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@