Building a 100-Story International Business Tower in Yongsan... Groundbreaking Scheduled for Late Next Year [Yongsan Seoul Core Blueprint]

Seoul City Announces Development Plan for Yongsan International Business District
100-Story Landmark Building... Regulation-Free 'White Zone'
Concert Hall and Seoul Art Museum in 80,000㎡ Park
6,000 Housing Units Supplied... 3 Trillion Won Invested in Transportation Improvements

The Yongsan International Business District (formerly the Yongsan Maintenance Depot site), known as the last "golden land" in downtown Seoul, has finalized its blueprint and will break ground next year. The central area will introduce a "Korean-style White Zone," allowing a landmark building up to 100 stories tall without restrictions on use or floor area ratio. A total of 6,000 housing units, including apartments and officetels, will also be supplied. The plan aims to attract global companies and develop the area into a business hub comparable to Singapore and Hong Kong.

New name 'Yongsan Seoul Core'... High-density development with 100-story and 80-story business districts

On the 28th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) held a briefing on the "Creation of the Future New Center Yongsan International Business District" and announced these plans. On the same day, Seoul designated the Yongsan International Business District area as an urban development zone and officially announced the development plan. This finalized the administrative procedures and confirmed the blueprint just nine months after announcing the development plan in February this year, marking the official start of the project. After the zone was canceled in 2013 and the project was halted, the zone was re-designated and legal effectiveness secured after more than 10 years.

The new name for the Yongsan International Business District was finalized as "Yongsan Seoul Core" following a public preference survey. It signifies not only the core of Seoul but also the future core of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Yongsan International Business District is a project to develop approximately 500,000 square meters of the railway maintenance depot site in Hangang-ro 3-ga, Yongsan-gu, into a mixed-use area with business, residential, and commercial facilities. It is a mega project estimated to cost 14.3 trillion KRW from national and local government budgets.

The site will be divided into four zones?International Business, Business Complex, Business Support, and Mixed Culture?and 20 blocks for development. The International Business Zone at the center will feature landmark buildings approximately 100 stories tall. This zone is designated as a Korean-style White Zone (an urban innovation zone with minimal location regulations), allowing the developer to implement customized urban planning without restrictions on building use or floor area ratio. The skyline of the International Business District is planned to gradually decrease in building height from the core International Business Zone to the Business Support Zone.

80,000㎡ park with outdoor performance hall near Yongsan Station... 6,000 housing units supplied

The Yongsan International Business District will create landmarks that enhance synergy in line with the Yongsan era by connecting political (Presidential Office) and cultural (Yongsan Park) functions. The central space of the site, an 80,000㎡ aerial park (Green Square), will include the Yongsan Concert Hall with up to 2,000 seats and the Seoul Art Museum, which will house international exhibitions, fairs, and a renowned art branch. An outdoor performance hall with up to 10,000 seats will also be established.

The Welcome Center at the entrance to Yongsan Park will be reorganized to build a sunken-type landmark. The pedestrian bridge connecting the International Business District to Nodeul Island and Noryangjin will also be developed as a landmark. The three-dimensional pedestrian green space "Yongsan Gateway," connecting this site and Yongsan Park, will be concretely promoted. The government and Seoul city will closely cooperate to ensure harmonious development of the Yongsan area in connection with the 100-story landmark building.

The Yongsan International Business District will supply 6,000 housing units, including apartments and officetels. The scale of housing supply projects currently underway in the surrounding area is about 7,000 units, making a total of 13,000 units to be supplied. The city plans to expedite the public-led Yongsan Urban Regeneration Innovation District project (600 units) near the Yongsan International Business District.

3.5 trillion KRW invested in traffic improvements including autonomous buses and overconsumption building management

A bird's-eye view of Yongsan International Business District. (Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government)

Measures have also been prepared to address excessive energy use, facility management, and traffic congestion resulting from ultra-high-rise and high-density development.

First, autonomous buses will operate connecting the metropolitan transportation transfer center with the internal circulation and surrounding stations. Parking, delivery, and management robots will also be introduced to realize a smart city. The integrated operation center will monitor energy consumption, manage overconsuming buildings, and oversee disaster response. Plans include creating zero-energy buildings and installing building-integrated photovoltaics and hydrogen fuel cells to develop an energy self-sufficient city by 2050.

To minimize traffic congestion in surrounding areas caused by the development project, a total budget of 3.578 trillion KRW will be invested in metropolitan traffic improvement measures. Seventeen projects, including new and expanded connecting roads, intersection improvements, and the Han River pedestrian bridge, will be promoted. Related service contracts will be issued starting in the first half of next year, with phased completion beginning in 2030.

The Yongsan International Business District development plans to obtain approval and announce the implementation plan by the second half of next year. Once announced, construction of infrastructure such as roads and parks will begin by the end of next year. The four zones will be sequentially sold to the private sector. Once construction begins in 2028, companies and residents are expected to move in as early as 2030.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo signed a joint agreement for development cooperation with KORAIL and Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) on the same day. Mayor Oh said, "This space symbolizes the future national competitiveness of the Republic of Korea, and we will realize both goals of revitalizing the economy and enhancing urban competitiveness. Cooperation with related agencies is the key to success, and Seoul City will do its best to ensure the project is successfully implemented." Minister Park also stated, "Together with Seoul City and related ministries, we will mobilize national capabilities and spare no support."