Democratic Party of Korea Seoul chapter chief Kim Young-bae and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met on the 22nd to discuss ways to use Yongsan Park for supplying dwellings but failed to narrow their differences. Kim argued that, to ease the housing crunch for young people, the city should keep open and review supply options that include Yongsan Park, while Oh reaffirmed his existing stance opposing the use of the main Yongsan Park site for dwellings.
Kim said after a luncheon meeting with Oh at the mayor's residence that they did not reach a broad agreement on the supply of dwellings when he met reporters at the National Assembly. He said the two sides were at loggerheads over using Yongsan Park, the Yongsan maintenance depot, and development-restricted zones (greenbelts).
Kim said the city strongly opposed, citing legal issues and traffic conditions, a plan to supply youth dwellings in Yongsan Park and the Yongsan maintenance depot. Kim's side holds that, given the severity of the housing woes for young people, all possible supply options should be kept open and reviewed.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a statement under the name of Spokesperson Lee Min-kyung that it made clear its existing position of opposing the use of the main Yongsan Park site for supplying dwellings, which concerns the quality of life of citizens. It explained that, because various administrative procedures and soil contamination remediation would take considerable time, it would be realistically difficult even to break ground within the current administration's term.
Oh also emphasized the need for prior consultations between the central government and the city. Rather than the government releasing candidate sites for supply first and then asking the city to cooperate, sufficient consultations before any release would allow the review of the sites' actual supply feasibility and anticipated issues and the presentation of workable alternatives.
The city proposed jointly looking for alternative sites that could produce real effects in supplying dwellings instead of the main Yongsan Park site. Oh had previously suggested the potential use of the Camp Kim site near Yongsan Park, the Gyeongnidan site, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs parking lot site. The city said it would also search for other sites where dwellings are possible, such as the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center, even if it takes some time.
Kim pointed out that, at sites such as the Gyeongnidan plot proposed by the city as an alternative, people are currently living or working there, so the prerequisites for development are not in place.
The two sides also clashed over lifting the greenbelt for the Seoripul district. Kim took issue with the fact that the city, which had pursued lifting the greenbelt for the Seoripul district in the past, opposes additional lifting. The city countered that it maintains a principle of limited review only for already damaged areas and no additional greenbelt lifting for future generations. It explained that the Seoripul district was a matter coordinated with the government on the premise of supplying the "Miri Ne Jip" program for newlyweds.
However, they found room for consultation on adjusting redevelopment and reconstruction regulations. Kim said further discussions are possible on floor area ratio incentives and improvements to urban maintenance systems. If the city delivers the necessary budget and policy proposals by mid-next month, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul chapter will also review them.
They also agreed to further discuss using part of the Future Response Fund as a funding source for supplying youth dwellings. Kim said Oh agreed with the idea and they would continue consultations.
Earlier, Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also met Oh on the 20th to discuss using Yongsan Park for supplying dwellings but failed to narrow their differences.