"Oh Sehoon Slams Plan for 10,000 Homes in Yongsan: 'It Will Become a Chicken-Coop Apartment Complex'"

Even Farmers Never Touch the Seed Grain
Do Not Tamper With It Just Because of a Real Estate Crisis

On February 3, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon commented on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s announcement that it would supply more than 10,000 housing units in the Yongsan International Business District, saying, “If the number is increased to more than 10,000 units, the essence of the business district will be damaged,” and added, “If you cram more households into the same area, it will inevitably become a chicken-coop apartment complex, and that cannot be considered quality housing.”

Yonhap News Agency

Mayor Oh, speaking with reporters while attending an on-site inspection of the Sampyo Remicon site in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, said, “The Yongsan International Business District was designed with the residential-to-work ratio set in line with the essence of a business district,” and lamented, “This is a matter already agreed upon with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, yet it looks as if the Seoul Metropolitan Government is obstructing the process by opposing housing supply, which is unfair.”

The Yongsan International Business District is a large-scale mixed-use development being created along the Han River in Seoul, and the city initially planned to supply 6,000 housing units there. During subsequent consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul proposed 8,000 units as a compromise, but through its January 29 urban housing supply measures, the central government announced a policy to increase the housing supply to more than 10,000 units. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has maintained its opposition, arguing that the balance between work and residential functions could be undermined.

Mayor Oh continued his strong criticism by likening the Yongsan International Business District to “seed grain.” His view is that its value is high because it is regarded as Seoul’s last remaining prime business district and as a model smart city. The mayor stressed, “No matter how urgent things are, a farmer never touches the seed grain,” and added, “For now, increasing the number of units may appear beneficial, but if you damage the essence, it will lead to greater losses in the long term.”

Finally, Mayor Oh said, “If the plan is changed, the project will inevitably be delayed, and if it is delayed, the actual timing of supply will fall beyond the current administration’s term,” and added, “It is not desirable to shake up the ratio already agreed upon with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.”