Seosomun Building Redevelopment Begins... 38-Story Mixed-Use Complex with Green Spaces and Concert Hall [Real Estate AtoZ]

Height and Floor Area Ratio Incentives Based on Green Space
18,000 Square Meters of Greenery to Be Created in Seosomun Area
Ecological Forest, Gardens, and Water Features Planned

The Seosomun Building will be reborn as a mixed-use work and cultural complex, featuring a 38-story classical music performance hall. Green spaces will be created in connection with the neighboring work districts undergoing redevelopment, forming a unified garden-like area.

On November 5, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Green Ecological Downtown Leading Project: Seosomun Building Redevelopment Project.' On this day, the city also announced the achievements of its green ecological downtown recreation strategy, which has been promoted alongside the redevelopment of three districts in the Seosomun area.

Seosomun Building with 1,100-Seat Classical Concert Hall to Be Completed in 2030

The 'Seosomun Building Redevelopment Project (Seoul Station-Seodaemun Districts 1 and 2, Zone 1)' is a core pillar of the green ecological downtown initiative. This urban renewal redevelopment project aims to build a mixed-use work and cultural facility with eight underground floors and 38 above-ground floors (a total floor area of 249,179 square meters) at 7 Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, with completion targeted for June 2030.

Upon completion, the office space in the Seosomun Building is expected to increase by approximately 3.5 times compared to the original, and the capacity to accommodate people will triple. It is anticipated that this will revitalize the Seosomun area, where large office buildings have become outdated.

For the first time in northern Seoul, a 'classical music performance hall' will be established. The Hoam Art Hall, which has led the performing arts culture since its opening in the 1980s, will be reborn as a 1,100-seat classical concert hall. Additional low-rise outdoor spaces secured near the performance hall on floors 4 to 9 will be utilized as urban rest areas connected to green spaces.

Seosomun Area Redevelopment Sites to Be Connected as a Single Urban Garden

The city has secured 18,140 square meters of green open space (including walkways) for the Seosomun Building redevelopment project, a 226% increase from the original 8,010 square meters. By providing height and floor area ratio incentives based on the open green space proposed by the developer, the city can secure large-scale green areas without using public funds. The green open space will feature an ecological forest, gardens, a stage, and water features.

The 'Green Ecological Downtown Recreation Strategy,' established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in April 2022 to revitalize the stagnant downtown area, is a development plan that relaxes building regulations as private developers secure open green spaces. To complete the green ecological downtown, the city announced the Seoul Downtown Master Plan in 2023, the 2030 Urban Residential Environment Improvement Master Plan, and developed guidelines for open green spaces.

In particular, from the planning stage, the city focused on securing green spaces to create a unified garden across the three redevelopment districts in the Seosomun area. These districts are: Seoul Station-Seodaemun Districts 1 and 2, Zone 1; Seosomun Districts 11 and 12; and Seosomun District 10. In addition, the green ecological downtown strategy is being applied to redevelopment projects in areas such as Yangdong District (in front of Seoul Station) and Supyo District (around Euljiro 3-ga).

Compared to the previous preservation-focused policies, redevelopment projects are now underway in 36 districts-five times more than before. Prior to the launch of the 'Green Ecological Downtown Recreation' initiative, there were only about 2.7 urban renewal projects per year on average, but after the policy was implemented, this number surged to 12.8 per year. Once all these projects are completed, Seoul will have secured large-scale private green spaces equivalent to about eight times the size of Seoul Plaza (100,000 square meters).

Oh Sehoon, Mayor of Seoul, stated, "Today's groundbreaking is not just a development project, but the starting point for Seoul's transformation into a green city," adding, "Through the new recreation model of the 'Green Ecological Downtown' strategy, which revitalizes the city and secures green spaces through regulatory relaxation and incentives, we will connect all of Seoul into a green network and elevate the city to a global green metropolis."