Construction of Large Underground Parking Lot and Commercial Facilities Planned on Bukchon-ro North Side of Anguk Station

Jongno-gu to Implement Bus Transportation Subsidy Program in September Next Year for 'Bukchon-ro Underground Parking Lot Construction Project'
Restrictions on Chartered Bus Traffic in Bukchon Special Management Area Also Enforced

Jongno-gu, Seoul is constructing a large underground parking lot along a 550m section of the road (Bukchon-ro) from Anguk Station to the Catholic Gahoe-dong Cathedral, and is promoting the development of commercial facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies, and supermarkets, as well as cultural and sports facilities. The total project cost is approximately 200 billion KRW and will be carried out as a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) private investment project.

Images of Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, and officials conducting the Bukchon campaign under the 'Bukchon Special Management Area Management Measures.' Provided by Jongno-gu.

On the 20th, Jeong Munheon, the mayor of Jongno-gu, explained the details of the "Bukchon-ro Underground Parking Lot Construction Project" at a press conference held at the annex of the district office. Mayor Jeong said, "Jongno is an area where the alleys from the Joseon Dynasty are still alive, so it is difficult to create new facilities such as parking lots, which is why we decided to utilize underground space. This area attracts many tourists and gatherings, so we believe the profitability is sufficient to proceed with a private investment project."

The Bukchon-ro Underground Parking Lot Construction Project includes a four-story underground off-street parking lot with 420 spaces, auxiliary facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies, and supermarkets covering 7,500㎡, a 3,500㎡ underground community cultural and sports facility with an attached parking lot for 65 vehicles, and a project to bury utility poles above ground.

Jongno-gu expects this project to raise the parking lot availability rate on Bukchon-ro from the current 45% to the 80% range and significantly improve the residential environment for residents. The project is scheduled to begin feasibility studies and basic facility planning in March next year, with construction targeted to start in 2028.

Additionally, to solve chronic parking shortages, the district is promoting the "Buam-dong Public Parking Lot and Resident Complex Facility Construction" project (124 spaces), a four-story underground to three-story aboveground structure, with construction starting in 2026. The Samcheong Park entrance public parking lot (178 spaces) will be completed next month, and the Okindong public parking lot (85 spaces) and Changsin Sodam public parking lot (176 spaces) will be completed by June next year.

Alongside these, the district introduced major projects for next year, including the "Jongno-gu Bus Transportation Fee Support Project," "Bukchon Special Management Area Control Measures," and the "Full-Scale Promotion of Jongno-gu Integrated Government Building Construction."

From September next year, the district will support transportation costs ranging from 80,000 to 240,000 KRW annually for seniors, youth, adolescents, and children to secure mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable groups and promote public transportation use.

Furthermore, under the "Bukchon Special Management Area Control Measures," starting July next year, a six-month pilot operation will restrict charter bus traffic in the Bukchon area, with fines imposed from January 2026. The fines are 300,000 KRW for the first violation, 400,000 KRW for the second, and 500,000 KRW for the third.

Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno District. Provided by Jongno District Office.

Regarding merchants' opposition to restrictions on tourist visits, Mayor Jeong explained, "We are not telling tourists not to come, but the intention is to maintain balance," adding, "The priority in implementing policies is residents' quality of life."

Meanwhile, the district will begin construction in May next year on the Jongno-gu Integrated Government Building at 146-2 Susong-dong, aiming for completion in December 2028. The building will have six underground floors and 16 aboveground floors, with a total floor area of 83,930㎡, housing district office administrative facilities, Jongno Fire Station, Fire Disaster Headquarters, Health Center, District Council, and a literary museum.