Seongheon Lee, Mayor of Seodaemun District: "Redeveloping Yujin Shopping Mall and Ant Village to Transform the Old Downtown into a Premium City..."

'Hongje Station Area Revitalization Project'
'Culture Town Rapid Integrated Redevelopment'
Number of Redevelopment Sites Increased from 38 to 56

"We will carry out an integrated development of the Yujin Shopping Mall and Inwang Market area, restore the Hongjecheon Stream, and build a complex facility with four buildings of 49 and 31 stories, totaling 1,121 households, on the site."

"Ant Village is the oldest and most challenging redevelopment area among the 56 redevelopment sites in Seodaemun District. By building consensus with residents this time, we are now able to accelerate full-scale development."

On the 14th, Seongheon Lee, mayor of Seodaemun District, met with reporters at the sites of Yujin Shopping Mall and Ant Village and stated, "Seodaemun District is accelerating redevelopment projects to transform the old downtown into a premium city by improving the environment of aging residential areas."

Seongheon Lee, Mayor of Seodaemun District, is briefing on the 'Rapid Integrated Planning Redevelopment Project in the Ant Village Area' at a press tour held in Hongje-dong Ant Village on the 14th. Provided by Seodaemun District Office.

At the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration in 2022, there were 38 redevelopment sites in Seodaemun District, but as of October this year, the number has increased to 56. Among them, the 'Rapid Integrated Planning Redevelopment Project in the Ant Village Area,' known as Seoul's last hillside village, and the 'Hongje Station Area Revitalization Project,' aimed at creating a landmark in northwestern Seoul, are symbolic of the old downtown's development in Seodaemun District.

First in the Nation: Local Government Directly Implements Redevelopment Project

On September 3, Seodaemun District designated and announced the mayor as the implementing body for the 'Hongje Station Area Revitalization Project (Urban Redevelopment Type Redevelopment).' The target area, Inwang Market and Yujin Shopping Mall (298-9, Hongje-dong), has seen various attempts at resident-led association-type redevelopment over the past 20 years, but all have repeatedly failed.

This area was selected as a target site for Seoul's Station Area Revitalization Project in November 2023. Since then, the district held numerous meetings with residents to gather opinions during the redevelopment planning process, and on July 3 of this year, finalized the redevelopment district and plan for the Hongje Station Area Revitalization Project. On September 3, the district met the requirements for designation as a public implementer under Article 26 of the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act, and for the first time in the nation, officially designated the head of a local government as the redevelopment project implementer.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "This is the first time a local government has taken the lead as the main implementer nationwide. Seodaemun District is serving as the developer, and with Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) joining as a co-implementer on the 13th, we have secured both stability and credibility for the project."

He also stated, "It took about one year and nine months from site selection in 2023 to designation as a public implementer, which is more than five years faster than the usual five to eight years required for such redevelopment projects, allowing us to dramatically shorten the project period."

Regarding the future schedule, he said, "By December this year, we will report the selection of co-implementers and other details to the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and in the first half of next year, obtain approval for the project plan and begin construction." He added, "With SH Corporation as a co-implementer, the project's stability is enhanced, and with the district office directly managing the project, we also expect to reduce costs. We will create a new landmark for the area by developing a healing space, welfare facilities, and officetel-style residences in connection with the Hongjecheon Stream restoration project."

Seongheon Lee, Mayor of Seodaemun District, is briefing on the 'Hongje Station Area Revitalization Project' at the Seodaemun District Job Plus Center inside Yujin Shopping Mall during a press tour held on the 14th. Provided by Seodaemun District Office.

Ant Village Area: Emphasizing "Development Without Residents Leaving"

Seodaemun District is also accelerating the integrated redevelopment project that covers Ant Village, Culture Village, and the lifted redevelopment zone of Hongje 4, all located at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain.

Among these, Ant Village was once a densely packed area of unauthorized housing at the base of Inwangsan Mountain. In 1998, Seoul City's land sale policy made some private ownership possible, but the residential environment remains poor. Mayor Lee explained, "The name 'Ant Village' comes from the reputation of its residents as people who have worked diligently like ants. Because of their strong attachment to the area, our goal is to ensure that the original residents do not have to leave during redevelopment."

The area referred to as Culture Town (around 9-81, Hongje-dong) was conditionally selected by the Seoul Rapid Integrated Planning Candidate Selection Committee in October last year, and was finally confirmed by the Seoul Selection Committee (subcommittee) on September 29.

The project will create a large-scale complex by integrating Ant Village, Culture Village, and Zone 4. The main road area will be upgraded to a Type 3 General Residential Zone to allow the construction of high-rise apartments of 30 stories or more, while the area along the base of Inwangsan Mountain will be developed into low-rise, French-style terrace houses up to six stories.

Mayor Lee stated, "We plan to design the project so that the profits generated from the high-rise apartments are used to build low-rise housing adjacent to Inwangsan Mountain, ensuring residents' housing rights and sharing the benefits."

He added, "We have already held two resident briefings, each attended by about 400 people, reflecting the high level of interest. Although the area has an irregular structure and many unauthorized buildings, which require administrative coordination, we will prioritize residents' opinions and create a redevelopment model that enables coexistence and mutual prosperity."

Mayor Lee concluded, "Redevelopment is not simply about replacing old buildings, but about deciding the environment in which residents will live and the communities where children will grow up. We will strive to transform the outdated residential environment of Seodaemun District by achieving both speed and transparency."