The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Happy City) is beginning to design the second presidential office and the National Assembly Sejong building to develop Sejong City into South Korea's Washington, D.C.
On the 21st, the Happy City noted through a briefing on this year's major business promotion plans that it will focus its capabilities on an international competition to create a national landmark space that includes the second presidential office and the National Assembly Sejong building within the 'Sejong National Symbol Zone.'
As early as next month, the Happy City plans to implement an international competition that integrates urban design for the core area where the second presidential office and the National Assembly Sejong building are located and the architectural design of the second presidential office.
A master plan for the 'S-1 living zone' that organically connects the core cultural facilities such as museum complexes, arboretums, and libraries, as well as lakes and central parks, will also be established centering around the Sejong National Symbol Zone selected in the international competition.
The Happy City will apply for a feasibility study for the construction of a new bridge across the Geum River and also reorganize the transportation system, including phased expansion of transportation infrastructure, development of new BRT routes, and establishment of a basic plan for National Route 96.
The construction of the Sejong District Court and the Prosecutors' Office will be actively promoted. In September, a national disaster response facility will be completed to establish a system capable of rapid response to large-scale disasters.
The Happy City aims to create quality jobs this year to also drive regional growth. It plans to prepare tailored incentives and actively promote the attraction of leading corporations in advanced industries. It will also seek to uncover new investment demand for the Sejong Techno Valley, designated as a special zone for development opportunities last November, and is preparing to develop the Jiphyeonjeon Future Campus into a corporate research and development complex town.
Chungnam National University and Gongju University plan to begin construction of a sales-type campus at the Future Campus in the first half of this year, while the rental type joint campus established last September will operate a consortium of resident universities.
Housing supply for actual demand will also be carried out. The Happy City plans to supply over 3,000 dwellings, including sale housing in Hakgang-dong and rental dwellings in Dasom-dong and Sanwool-dong this year. A detailed housing supply plan is scheduled to be announced in February.
Plans will be established for housing stability measures, such as rental dwellings for the youth, and the Happy City is set to launch a private sector competition this year to create a 'senior town modeled after happy cities' in preparation for changes related to a super-aged society.
Kim Hyung-ryeol, head of the Happy City, stated, 'The Sejong National Symbol Zone is an unprecedented historical project,' and added, 'We will carefully pursue this initiative to go beyond simply creating good buildings and spaces, showing the spirit of the times and future directions.'