[Exclusive] Seoul City to Build 'Mirinae House' for Newlyweds on Abandoned School Sites

District Unit Plan to Be Changed for Mirinae Jip Construction
336 Units of 44 and 59㎡ Exclusively for Newlyweds
Some Long-term Jeonse 1 Units May Be Converted to Long-term Jeonse 2

Seoul City will build a dedicated complex of ‘Mirinae Jip (Long-term Jeonse Housing 2)’ on undeveloped school sites in the Godeok Gangil 3 District. The land, where school construction was delayed or canceled due to low birth rates, will be used to supply housing for newlyweds. The city plans to supply Mirinae Jip not only in Godeok Gangil but also by utilizing unused sites throughout Seoul.

According to Seoul City on the 25th, the city and SH Corporation will change the district unit plan for the middle school site within the Godeok Gangil Public Housing District to create a ‘Mirinae Jip Newlywed Exclusive Complex.’ They will build 336 Mirinae Jip units with preferred exclusive areas of 44 and 59㎡ for newlyweds. Additionally, community facilities tailored for newlyweds such as daycare centers, co-parenting spaces, and care centers will be established. Construction is expected to begin as early as November.

The Mirinae Jip exclusive complex will be located on the middle school site planned near Gangdong Lien Park 9 Complex in Godeok Gangil 3 District, specifically at Sangil-dong 554-9. Although designated as a school site in August 2015, the land was left vacant as no school was built. Within the Godeok Gangil District, two school sites (one elementary and one middle school) are planned. The Seoul Gangsol Elementary School Ganghyeon Campus near Block 12 recently passed the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s financial investment review.

A city official explained, "Although planned as a school site, due to a decrease in student numbers and insufficient demand, we are changing the land use to residential and promoting the construction of Mirinae Jip. To change the district plan, approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is required, and we are also consulting with the Metropolitan Office of Education. We understand that they have expressed the need for more time to review."

The city also plans to build additional newlywed-exclusive complexes by utilizing undeveloped school sites in Seoul, such as the Eunpyeong Redevelopment Promotion District. A request to release the middle school site (around 246-1 Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu) from school facilities was submitted in April 2023. Many sites designated as school land in public housing districts have been left unused because central investment reviews by the Ministry of Education have not proceeded.

However, it is expected that more time will be needed to actually build Mirinae Jip. Challenges include resident opposition and coordination with the education office. The city previously attempted to convert a middle school site donated by Olympic Park Foreon (Dunchon Jugong Reconstruction) into a public open space but postponed the change due to opposition from residents. In 2020, the Ministry of Education’s central investment review concluded it was ‘inappropriate.’ The Metropolitan Office of Education announced in July last year plans to establish an urban-type campus middle school in Dunchon-dong, and the city decided to maintain the school site until the central investment review in April.

Furthermore, Seoul City and SH Corporation are considering converting all housing units with exclusive areas over 40㎡, originally planned as long-term jeonse housing to be supplied by 2026, into Mirinae Jip units to increase supply. This includes units planned as Long-term Jeonse Housing 1 in public housing projects built by SH Corporation such as Wirye A1-14 Block, Magok 16 and 10-2 Blocks, Gwanak Culture Plaza, Guryong Village, and Seongdui Village. The increase in Mirinae Jip units due to this supply method change is estimated to be about 1,300 units.

A Seoul city official said, "We are reviewing converting the medium-sized units originally planned as long-term jeonse housing (SHIFT) among the construction-type units into Mirinae Jip, and there is no need to change the building plans. Although long-term jeonse housing comes in various types, Mirinae Jip needs to be supplied in larger sizes of 59 to 84㎡ to accommodate newlyweds who plan to have 2 to 3 children."

This year’s supply target for Mirinae Jip is 3,500 units. These are divided into 2,000 units of purchased rental housing, 500 units of private rental housing, and 1,000 units including new and vacated long-term jeonse 2 units. Previously, Mirinae Jip was supplied through newly built rental apartments secured from reconstruction and redevelopment projects, but the types of Mirinae Jip have been expanded to meet demand. A city official explained, "We plan to support newlyweds living in purchased or private rental housing to move to long-term jeonse 2 housing when they have children."