Goyang City Faces Setback in District Unit Plan for Old Downtown as Entire Budget Is Cut, Raising Concerns Over Disorderly Development

Goyang Faces a 'Management Cliff' in Old Downtown
Prolonged Management Vacuum Increases Inconvenience for Residents
Urgent Need for Swift Planning to Establish Concrete Management Standards

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) has encountered a setback in its efforts to fundamentally improve the residential environment of its old downtown area through the establishment of a 'District Unit Plan.' With the related budget completely cut, concerns are mounting that the deteriorated old downtown may be exposed to disorderly small-scale developments without systematic management.

A view of Goyang Special City Hall. Provided by Goyang Special City.

According to Goyang Special City on December 22, the entire budget of approximately 590 million won for the district unit plan service, which the city had been pursuing to manage the old downtown, has been eliminated. This will further prolong the management vacuum and delay improvements to the urban landscape.

The district unit plan is a preliminary stage for managing disorderly development and gradually expanding infrastructure such as roads and pedestrian spaces. By setting road alignment in advance, the city can gradually widen roads during each construction project or secure pedestrian spaces by maintaining building setbacks. This urban management approach is designed to ensure that individual buildings are developed in line with public objectives, tailored to the conditions of the old downtown where large-scale development is difficult.

However, with the planning budget entirely cut, individual new constructions will continue to occur sporadically without specific standards. City officials stated that if the budget gap continues for an extended period, both the speed and scope of old downtown improvements will inevitably be reduced, emphasizing that the city council's approval of the budget is necessary, even if early next year.

Experts also point out that addressing the issues of the old downtown requires management at the living area level, rather than on a plot-by-plot basis, for meaningful improvements. Goyang City designated five areas-Wondang, Ilsan, Neunggok, Gwansan, and Goyang-as targets for the district unit plan based on this assessment.

In fact, following the cancellation of redevelopment promotion districts (formerly New Towns) between 2015 and 2017, there has been a series of small-scale new constructions and individual developments in the old downtown. However, problems such as parking shortages, narrow roads, and inconvenient pedestrian environments have not been resolved. Without systematic management standards, repeated construction without infrastructure expansion has actually worsened the living environment for residents.

An official from Goyang Special City stated, "The district unit plan for the old downtown is not about immediate development, but about establishing the minimum standards for long-term urban management," adding, "Securing the related budget is urgent to prevent disorderly development in the old downtown and reduce inconvenience for citizens."