Seoul Station Northern Area Complex Development on Track... Groundbreaking Within the Year

Seoul City Holds Urban Planning Committee Meeting and Approves District Unit Plan Amendment
Some Details Revised After Building Permit Issued Late Last Year

The development project of the northern area around Seoul Station, known as the "Gangbuk COEX," will break ground within this year. Following the building permit granted in December last year, the district unit plan was revised this time to complete the approval process. The long-neglected idle railway land is set to be transformed into a high-density complex featuring convention (MICE) facilities, offices, hotels, and more.

Perspective view of the complex development in the northern station area of Seoul Station. (Provided by Seoul City)

On the 11th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held the 10th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting and approved the original proposal for the district unit plan revision of the Seoul Station northern area complex development project.

This revision mainly involves modifying parts of the previously decided district unit plan to facilitate smooth project progress after the building permit was issued in December last year. Reflecting opinions from related institutions such as the Cultural Heritage Committee, the scale and alignment of the connecting bridge to Seoul Station Plaza were changed. The location of the top-floor observatory, which is a public open space, was also adjusted. Additionally, the international conference facility planned to support downtown business was expanded to include an 'exhibition hall' function.

Following the building permit and this district unit plan revision, the Seoul Station northern area complex development project is expected to accelerate. The plan is to start construction within this year and complete it by 2028.

According to the plan, the site will be developed into a complex of five buildings ranging from six basement levels to a maximum of 38 floors above ground, comprising exhibition, hotel, retail, and office spaces. Notably, it will feature a convention facility with a conference hall and exhibition hall capable of accommodating over 2,000 people, the first of its kind in the downtown and Gangbuk areas. International conference-level facilities in Seoul have been mainly concentrated in Gangnam areas such as COEX and SETEC.

Location map of the northern area development project of Seoul Station. (Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government)

The target site, located in Bongnae-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, is an idle railway land situated between Seoul-ro 7017 and Yeomcheon-gyo Handmade Shoe Street, which has been left vacant for a long time. Although discussions on the project began in 2008, it drifted for over ten years due to the global financial crisis, the Board of Audit and Inspection's request for a business feasibility review, and the withdrawal of private developers. Subsequently, to unblock development, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the landowner, KORAIL, reestablished development directions and guidelines. The project resumed when the Hanwha consortium, selected as the developer in December 2019, submitted a preliminary negotiation proposal.

Jo Nam-jun, Director of the Urban Space Headquarters of Seoul City, said, "This decision has secured the driving force to initiate the redevelopment of the northern area around Seoul Station, marking the start of spatial reorganization at Seoul Station." He added, "We expect it will strengthen the status of Seoul Station as the national central station and inject new vitality into the downtown area."