Hongdae~Hapjeong Area to Become a Hub for Tourism and Youth Culture... Floor Area Ratio Relaxed Up to 1.2 Times

Seoul City Approves District Unit Plan for Hongdae Area

The area around Hongdae Ipgu Station and Hapjeong Station on Subway Line 2 is set to be reborn as a hub for youth culture and tourism. If foreign lodging facilities, performance venues, and spaces for youth startups and employment are built, the floor area ratio will be increased by up to 1.2 times.

On the 23rd, Seoul City held the 14th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee and announced on the 24th that it had approved the amendment of the 'Mapo Design and Publishing Specific Development Promotion District and Mapo District Unit Plan Decision.'

In 2010, the city designated a specific development promotion district in the Mapo-gu area to support design and publishing industries, and in 2016, it designated a district unit plan area around Hapjeong Station to realize this.

This district unit plan expands from the area around Hapjeong Station to the entire specific development promotion district. It also includes a plan to relax the floor area ratio and building height by up to 120% if recommended industries such as design and publishing are introduced within the district to revitalize these sectors.

Furthermore, to activate the Hongdae commercial district, performance and exhibition culture, and tourism industry, recommended uses were set for five different zones, and floor area ratio incentives will be provided. In the area around Eoulmadang-ro, retail stores and performance venues are recommended to promote pedestrian traffic, commercial activity, and local performance culture. Around Hapjeong Station, offices are planned as recommended uses, and a plan to relax usage regulations will be established to encourage the creation of spaces for youth startups and employment.

Near the Airport Railroad, foreign lodging facilities are planned as a regionally specialized use. This is intended to provide convenience for foreign tourists visiting Hongdae in terms of tourism and accommodation. In the area around Hongik University Art & Design Valley, exhibition halls, bookstores, and academies are planned as recommended uses to create spaces for cultural and artistic activities and education. Along Dokmak-ro, plans for recommended uses such as fitness centers and clinics have been prepared to improve the living convenience of the resident population.

A Seoul city official said, "Through this district unit plan amendment, we plan to revitalize industrial, cultural, commercial, and tourism functions within the district," adding, "We expect the Hongdae area to play a role as the center of youth culture, commerce, and tourism in the northwest region."