The Plaza Hotel, Hanwha Building, and Hanwha Life Headquarters Near Seoul Plaza to Be Remodeled for the First Time in 47 Years [Real Estate AtoZ]

Public Observatories to Open on Rooftops of The Plaza Hotel and Hanwha Building
Partial Demolition of The Plaza Hotel’s Lower Floors to Create a New Public Pedestrian Passage
40-Story Office and Officetel Facility to Be Built on Former BYC Headquarters Site
Prima Hotel Site in Cheongdam-dong to Be Reborn as a 38-Story Mixed-Use Complex

The Plaza Hotel, Hanwha Building, and Hanwha Life Insurance Taepyeong-ro Headquarters, located around Seoul Plaza, are set to undergo remodeling for the first time in 47 years. A new public pedestrian passage will be created on the lower floors of The Plaza Hotel, connecting to Bukchang-dong, and public observatories will be built on the rooftops of both the hotel and the Hanwha Building in Sogong-dong, opening these spaces to citizens.

On October 29, Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that at the 14th Architectural Committee meeting, five architectural projects, including the construction project for Daerim 2-dong 1104-1 and the Sogong District Unit Plan Zones 1, 2, and 3 remodeling project, passed the review.

Perspective view of the Sogong District Unit Plan Zones 1, 2, and 3 remodeling project. Provided by Seoul City

Public Pedestrian Passage Through The Plaza Hotel to Connect Seoul Plaza and Namdaemun Market

The Plaza Hotel, Sogong-dong Hanwha Building, and Hanwha Life Insurance Taepyeong-ro Headquarters, all built in 1978 as part of Korea’s first urban redevelopment, will be remodeled instead of being demolished. Adopting a “district-integrated approach,” the project aims to improve the buildings while revitalizing the surrounding commercial area, applying a pioneering remodeling model that encourages cooperation among the public sector, businesses, and merchants.

The passage between Seoul Plaza and Bukchang-dong, which has been blocked by buildings for over 40 years, will be reconnected. Part of the lower floors of The Plaza Hotel will be demolished to create a pilotis-style public pedestrian passage through the building. In connection with the "Sejong-daero Signature Pedestrian Street" being developed by the city, this will complete a central urban pedestrian network linking Gwanghwamun, Seoul Plaza, Bukchang-dong, and Namdaemun Market. The city also plans to improve the environment of the Sogong underground walkway that connects City Hall Station, the hotel, and Myeong-dong.

Sogong District Unit Plan Zones 1, 2, and 3 The Plaza Hotel Rooftop Observatory Rendering. Provided by Seoul City

Public observatories and sky gardens will be created on the rooftops of The Plaza Hotel and the Hanwha Building in Sogong-dong, opening these spaces to citizens and tourists. These observatories will provide panoramic views of Gwanghwamun, Bugaksan, Deoksugung Palace, Sejong-daero, and Namsan. A dedicated elevator will be installed to connect the hotel’s first floor directly to the observatory.

The lower floors of the buildings will be horizontally expanded, and the exterior will be renovated with warm wood-tone colors to harmonize with surrounding buildings and cultural heritage sites. The entrances to parking lots on vehicle-centered roads within the district will be relocated outside, while the interior will feature an urban forest with ecological green spaces, serving as a plaza for various events and as a relaxation area for residents.

The city plans to promote sustainable urban revitalization by implementing public-private partnership town management, utilizing public open spaces such as pedestrian-only roads, rooftop observatories, and underground public walkways to host citizen festivals and events.

Pedestrian-only road rendering for Sogong District Unit Plan Zones 1, 2, and 3. Provided by Seoul City

Cheongdam-dong Prima Hotel Site to Become a Mixed-Use Complex with a Five-Star Hotel

Aerial view of the mixed-use facility on the site of Prima Hotel in Cheongdam-dong. Provided by Seoul City

The Prima Hotel site in Cheongdam-dong will be transformed into a premium mixed-use complex up to 38 stories high, combining a five-star hotel with residential, office, and cultural facilities. It will become a new landmark connecting the business district of Gangnam with the tourism and cultural hub. The complex will consist of eight underground and 38 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of approximately 7,000 square meters, housing 74 five-star hotel rooms, 29 residential units, 20 officetels, as well as neighborhood and cultural facilities.

The project site is located along Dosan-daero, a key axis of Gangnam, and in the Cheongdam-dong area, a hub for fashion, beauty, and Hallyu tourism. Leveraging the area's unique characteristics, with its concentration of galleries, design shops, and cultural spaces, the project aims to create a mixed-use cultural street where art, leisure, and communication coexist.

The hotel lobby level will feature a cultural and arts information platform and an art pop-up store as public contribution facilities, and the mixed-use cultural space will serve as a venue for local artists, emerging creators, and young entrepreneurs to interact. An open plaza on the first floor will provide a rest area for citizens. The 20th and 21st floors will include hotel amenities such as cafes and restaurants, as well as an outdoor terrace zone, and a sky garden offering views of the cityscape and the Han River, which will be open to the public.

40-Story Mixed-Use Facility to Be Built on Former BYC Headquarters Site

A bird's-eye view of the complex facility to be built on the former BYC building site (Daerim 2-dong 1104-1). Provided by Seoul City

In the area of 1104-1 Daerim 2-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, near Guro Digital Complex Station, a mixed-use facility will be built with seven underground and 40 above-ground floors, including office space and 1,095 officetels. The twin towers, featuring a facade inspired by woven textile patterns, are expected to become a landmark for the Guro Digital Complex area.

A new road will be constructed around the project site, and a park for residents and nearby elementary school students will be created on the northern side of the site. The existing rainwater pumping station will be expanded, and an additional underground storage tank will be installed beneath the park to prevent frequent flooding caused by Dorimcheon Stream overflowing. The safety of flood-prone areas near Guro Digital Complex Station is expected to improve significantly.

Three-dimensional pedestrian walkways directly connecting to Guro Digital Complex Station on Subway Line 2 and public pedestrian passages within the site will be installed to create a pleasant walking environment. Two open plazas will serve as public rest areas for pedestrians. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with completion expected in January 2031.

Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing at Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "This review marks a shift from the complete demolition of aging buildings to an integrated remodeling approach that enhances urban vitality through collaboration among the public sector, businesses, property owners, and merchants. We will strengthen support to ensure that not only sustainable remodeling but also regionally customized development can spread throughout the city center, including the Seoul Plaza area."