Dongducheon City Selected for National Old Residential Area Improvement Project
Secures 25 Billion Won... First Urban Regeneration to Transform Red-Light District into a Park
Presents a Public Development Model Returning Urban Space to Citizens
Dongducheon City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Park Hyungdeok) has been finally selected for the "2025 Old Residential Area Improvement Support Project" organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, securing a priming budget of 25 billion won for the closure of the longstanding red-light district and the regeneration of old residential areas-both of which have been persistent urban challenges.
Dongducheon City announced on December 22 that, as a result of this selection, it has secured 15 billion won in national funding and 10 billion won in local funding. The city will launch a large-scale redevelopment project centered around the Dongducheon Central Station area over the five years from 2026 to 2030.
This selection is being hailed as a new milestone in South Korea's urban regeneration, as it not only involves the improvement of old residential areas around Dongducheon Central Station but also transforms a red-light district, which carries the scars of modern Korean history, into a public cultural space.
Urban Regeneration: Transforming a Painful History into a Space for the Future
The core of this project is the functional transformation of the "red-light district (centered on 660-1 Saengyeon-dong)." Dongducheon City has presented a plan to develop this area-formed against the historical backdrop of the U.S. military presence-into a cultural park focused on community facilities for residents.
Following the Korean War, the prolonged stationing of U.S. military bases in Dongducheon led to the formation of a "base village" culture, with the red-light district symbolizing the darker side of that history. The city has decided to resolve these structural issues associated with the U.S. military presence and transform the area into a space that heals the wounds of the local community.
This project is particularly noteworthy as it is the only case in South Korea where a red-light district will be completely eliminated through an urban regeneration initiative. A key distinction is that the site will be returned to the public by developing it into Saengyeon Cultural Park and parking lots for citizens, rather than for private profit. This is significant not only as a physical improvement of the environment but also as a public-led solution to the ethical and social issues the city has faced.
Central Station Area: Leaping Forward as a Hub of Vitality for Old Residential Areas
Alongside the park development of the red-light district, the city will also push forward with the improvement of old residential areas around Dongducheon Central Station. This area, characterized by landlocked plots (lots without access roads) and clusters of aging houses, has suffered from poor living conditions and a high risk of crime.
The city plans to demolish seven vacant houses in the area and create community-oriented spaces such as the Eosujeong History Square, a "Gateway Guardian" rest area, and a village parking lot, all of which have been in high demand among residents. In particular, the city will focus on revitalizing the residential area by transforming the spaces secured through vacant house clearance into public facilities for relaxation and community interaction.
The project will run for five years, from 2026 to 2030. It will also include support for the repair of 30 old houses, the construction of new roads to resolve landlocked plots, and improvements to create a safer pedestrian environment. Through these efforts, the overall living conditions in the Central Station area are expected to improve significantly.
A Dongducheon City official stated, "Our selection for this old residential area improvement support project is a result of the city's strong commitment to healing longstanding urban wounds and returning a space of hope to our citizens, which has been recognized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport."
The official added, "We will do our utmost to make this the nation's first successful public-led redevelopment model, returning the red-light district to citizens as a park and parking lot rather than for private development profit, and setting a benchmark for urban regeneration across the country."
Dongducheon City plans to establish an urban regeneration activation plan by the first half of 2026 and to achieve both goals of boosting urban vitality and improving the residential environment through the swift implementation of the project.
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