The government is speeding up development of the Seoripul public dwelling district, a development-restricted zone (greenbelt), to quickly supply dwellings, but residents are strongly opposed. Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, "Push the project with the goal of designating the district in January next year," but residents of residential areas in the Seoripul district say that "the government is shortening procedures and rushing through the environmental impact assessment and other steps." With existing residents vehemently opposed, the ministry's plan to supply public dwellings appears likely to face setbacks.
According to the government and Saejeong-i Village in the Seoripul district on the 20th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) held public hearings on drafts of the strategic environmental impact assessment and climate change impact assessment for the Seoul Seoripul 1 public dwelling district on the 17th.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced on Nov. 5 last year a plan to lift the greenbelt in four districts—Seoripul in Seocho District, Seoul, and Daegok in Goyang, Ojeon and Wanggok in Uiwang, and Yonghyeon in Uijeongbu—in the greater Seoul area to supply 50,000 households. In particular, the Seoripul district drew major attention as the first area in 12 years in Seoul where a development-restricted zone would be lifted. The government said it would develop 2.21 million square meters (about 670,000 pyeong) spanning Wonji, Sinwon, Yeomgok, and Naegok neighborhoods in Seocho District for Seoripul District 1 and the area around Umyeon-dong for Seoripul District 2 to supply 20,000 public dwellings tailored to young people and newlyweds.
As Seoul's dwelling supply crunch worsened, the government presented a blueprint to pre-sell dwellings at new housing sites starting in 2029 and begin first move-ins in 2031. The Minister visited the Seoripul district on the 5th and said, "Actively manage each stage of the procedures, including prior consultations with related agencies, and push the project with the goal of designating the district around January next year," adding, "Please take meticulous steps to minimize inconvenience to residents by actively listening to their opinions throughout the process."
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is accelerating development of the Seoripul district, but residents of Saejeong-i Village in District 1 and Songdong Village and Sikyuchon Village in District 2 are pushing back, saying they "oppose the forced expropriation policy." While owners of nonresidential land such as fields and rice paddies are favorable to development, opposition is coming from residential areas.
At the public hearing for Seoripul District 1, centered on Saejeong-i Village, there were also complaints that "the development procedures are being rushed." The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) had planned to designate the Seoripul district by the first half of next year, but after moving that up to March, it is now rushing to designate it in January, leading residents to say that the environmental impact assessment and other steps have been handled poorly.
A, a representative of Saejeong-i Village residents, said, "The environmental impact assessment for the planned development site found many legally protected species, including the Eurasian sparrowhawk, scops owl, and narrow-mouthed toad," and added, "The project implementer has a duty to clearly prove through a thorough survey that the area is not their habitat, stopover, or breeding ground." A said, "The total survey period was only 10 days. Forcing through a final notice without even allowing time is a textbook example of slapdash administration that clearly causes procedural deficiencies and ignores environmental value," and argued that "the residential area needs to be preserved."
Opposition in Seoripul District 2 is even more intense. Residents of Seoripul District 2 declared a collective boycott of the briefing session. After the session was canceled, a public hearing on the draft strategic environmental impact assessment for Seoripul District 2 was scheduled for the 24th, but residents are expected to strongly oppose there as well.
This resident backlash is likely to weigh on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT)'s development of the Seoripul district. With only about two months left until the targeted timing for district designation, the ministry needs to speed up efforts to persuade residents. Although it plans to shorten the project period by expediting compensation, if many residents oppose, they are likely to file objections such as applications for adjudication of expropriation, making it difficult to accelerate the project.