Creation of a New Work-Live-Play Compact City in Geumcheon-gu Center
Promoting Public-Private-Military Cooperation through Urban-Type Facility Construction
Drafting 2025 Spatial Restructuring Plan, Targeting Final Plan Decision in 2026
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) announced that it will actively promote the complex development project of the Air Force base site in Doksan-dong to resolve regional disconnection and strengthen urban functions.
The Air Force base site in Doksan-dong covers approximately 125,000㎡ and has been home to the Air Force 3rd Missile Defense Brigade since 1943. Located in the center of Geumcheon-gu, the Air Force base has disrupted the local living area and hindered urban development for about 80 years. As residents have long experienced inconveniences in their living environment, the site development remains a long-standing wish of the community.
Since 2005, the district has discussed the complete relocation of the military base with various local governments to promote urban development projects, but all attempts were thwarted due to strong opposition from candidate local governments for relocation.
Accordingly, in 2021, the district sought alternatives to resolve the long-stalled project. The project direction was shifted toward regional development through national land development, strengthening urban competitiveness, improving the working environment for military personnel, and enhancing welfare. It was agreed with the Ministry of National Defense to compress and deploy the Air Force 3rd Missile Defense Brigade as an urban-type unit within the current site and develop the remaining land.
With the introduction of the new urban planning system, the Spatial Innovation Zone, in January 2023, the district proactively reviewed related laws and regulations and conducted institutional consultations, including meetings between the Seoul Mayor and district mayor. Subsequently, after dozens of working-level meetings with related agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City, the site was selected as a leading project area for the Spatial Innovation Zone in July 2024.
The Air Force base site selected as a leading project for the Spatial Innovation Zone allows creative and innovative development beyond the limitations of the existing urban planning system. There are no restrictions on land and building uses, and floor area ratio and building coverage ratio can be freely set.
The district plans to proceed with the project swiftly based on active cooperation and administrative support from government agencies such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of National Defense, and Seoul City.
The basic concept for the development of the Geumcheon-gu Air Force base site consists of three main points. First, convergence urban development through the Spatial Innovation Zone. The existing military base will be compressed and deployed as an urban-type unit, and industrial, office, and residential facilities will be integrated. Additionally, various amenity facilities such as parks and green spaces needed by residents will be expanded and provided.
Second, fostering an IT and advanced industry hub linked with Geumcheon-gu’s G-Valley. According to the 2040 Seoul Metropolitan Basic Plan, sufficient industrial land will be secured within the Air Force base site to support the growth of advanced industries. From the early stages of the project, the district is communicating with business leaders aiming to attract innovative and creative leading companies (anchor companies). In the future, the goal is to revitalize the local economy and strengthen urban competitiveness by attracting job creation and sustainable industries.
Third, realizing a compact city (Compact City) integrating residential and leisure facilities with workplaces. Currently, 94% of G-Valley workers commute from outside, causing serious separation between work and residence. The district plans to provide large-scale quality multi-family housing within the Air Force base and introduce sufficient entertainment and leisure facilities to achieve proximity between work and residence.
Following this basic concept, since August, the district has been holding visiting resident briefings while touring 10 community service centers. Additionally, an online survey targeting the entire population has been underway from October through the end of the year. Reflecting diverse opinions, the district plans to proceed with a feasibility study in the second half of 2024 and prepare a spatial restructuring plan draft in 2025. Afterward, following reviews by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City, the goal is to finalize the plan by 2026.
Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “With the selection as a leading project, we can accelerate the long-awaited development of the Air Force base site for Geumcheon residents. We will do our best to restore the disconnected local living area, promote balanced development by fostering the industrial hub behind G-Valley, strengthen urban competitiveness, create jobs, and make this area the new center of southwest Seoul.”
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