[Seoul's Future] Chief Architect Kang Byung-geun: "Commuting and Living Within 30 Minutes on Foot... Yongsan Is the First Case"

Asia Economy Seoul Future Forum - Lecture on Yongsan's Future
"The Basic Unit of Future Seoul is a 'Walkable Everyday City'... Yongsan as the First Case"
Need for Green Spaces, Key to Enhancing Urban Competitiveness
"Development and Implementation to be Entrusted to the Private Sector, Public Sector to Play Only Coordination and Management Roles"

"100 years from now, Seoul should become a ‘Walkable Everyday City’ where housing, work, and leisure can all be accessed within a 30-minute walk."

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul, is attending the '2024 Future of Seoul Forum: The Future of Yongsan' held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th, giving a lecture titled 'Seoul 100 Years Ahead through Yongsan.' Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul Metropolitan Government, said this on the 26th at the ‘2024 Seoul Future Forum’ held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the theme ‘The Future of Yongsan.’ He emphasized, “Seoul needs a comprehensive plan looking 100 years ahead, not just a short-term plan considering 10 to 20 years from now.”

He explained, “If we create a walkable everyday city where people can live, work, and enjoy leisure, the quality of life for Seoul citizens and the city’s dignity will greatly improve, which will in turn enhance Seoul’s competitiveness as a global city.” He added, “By linking cells of 800 meters in size, we can create between 37 and 42 walkable everyday cities in Seoul. The Yongsan International Business District, currently being promoted by the city around the Yongsan Maintenance Depot area, is the first example.”

He saw the need for a ‘multi-layered complex vertical city’ to achieve this. Chief Architect Kang said, “We need to accommodate a population of over 10 million within a limited area, so horizontal urban expansion is no longer a solution. The big challenge ahead is how to build the city vertically.” He emphasized that instead of a horizontal city made up of a single floor, a three-dimensional city consisting of multiple layers such as underground, ground level, and aerial levels must be created.

He also stressed the importance of securing green spaces. Kang said, “Even in small areas, there must be green spaces within a 5-minute walk. Yongsan is a place where simulations have been conducted on how green spaces will interact with our daily lives according to seasonal changes.” Approximately 500,000 square meters of green space, equivalent to the project site area (495,000㎡), will be created in the Yongsan International Business District. This will be implemented as a public space accessible not only to Seoul citizens but also to global residents. He said, “Ultimately, Yongsan will showcase a city that no other country in the world has been able to realize. Based on this, Seoul can leap forward as the world’s number one city.”

Chief Architect Kang emphasized, “The core value and goal for future Seoul is to create a ‘human-centered city’ by integrating three fundamental elements: nature, people, and technology.” He added, “The key to governance of the Seoul metropolitan mega-city is how to organically connect adjacent cities centered around Seoul.”

Kang Byung-geun, Chief Architect of Seoul, is attending the '2024 Future of Seoul Forum: The Future of Yongsan' held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th, giving a lecture titled 'Seoul 100 Years Ahead through Yongsan.' Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The development plan and execution of the walkable everyday city will be entrusted to the private sector as much as possible. Once the total density (floor area ratio) is set for the project, the project entities can freely determine the use and density of each plot. Chief Architect Kang stated, “The city only plays a role in adjusting and managing the plans set by the private sector and does not prescribe the implementation method.”

He emphasized, “The major spatial structural changes starting in Yongsan are a solution to transform today’s Seoul, which faces severe social division and polarization, into a fair and cohesive city. Through the future of Yongsan, we can see the future of Seoul and, furthermore, the future of the Republic of Korea.”