Residents of the Seoripul 2 public housing district in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are calling for a "preservation-type development" that protects the existing village, the church, and the ecological corridor. As the government pushes to supply 20,000 public dwellings in the Seoripul 1 and 2 districts, residents argue that, instead of a full acquisition-and-demolition approach in Seoripul 2, a design that leaves the village district and key ecological sections in place is a realistic alternative that would speed up housing supply.
Residents of Songdong Village and Sikyuchon Village and officials from Umyeonsan Catholic Church held a press briefing at Umyeonsan Catholic Church in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 24th, saying they are "not opposed to the supply of public dwellings itself but oppose a full demolition-style development method." They plan to soon submit a preservation application to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), and to file an administrative lawsuit within the month.
Seong Hae-young, vice chair of the Seoripul 2 District Countermeasure Committee, said that day, "We are not calling for a complete halt to or withdrawal from the development," and added, "We are requesting a preservation-type and boundary-adjustment-type win-win development, not full demolition."
The Seoripul district is public land in the Gangnam area where the government lifted greenbelt restrictions in 2024 to supply public dwellings. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) designated Seoripul 1 District in Feb. and is proceeding with procedures to supply 18,000 units. This month it also designated Seoripul 2 as a public housing district to supply 2,000 units. Combined, the two districts will supply 20,000 units.
Residents argue that even within Seoripul 2, dwellings can be placed on the remaining sites excluding the church, existing residential areas, and sections requiring ecological conservation. If necessary, they say authorities should also consider increasing some of the dwelling allocation in Seoripul 1 during the district plan adjustment process.
Environmental and cultural heritage review variables are also behind the residents' demand for preservation-type development. According to residents, an on-site survey by LH confirmed seven legally protected species, including the northern goshawk, Eurasian sparrowhawk, narrow-mouthed toad, and scops owl, within the boundaries of Seoripul 2 and within a 200-meter radius. They also said the entire Seoripul 2 area is a buried heritage retention zone requiring sampling surveys if developed, and that some sections are artifact scatter sites requiring trial trenching before development. They further claimed that a presumed burial site of the Yeo San Song clan, known as the in-laws of King Danjong, is included within the district.
Vice Chair Seong said, "A preservation-type and boundary-adjustment-type development that protects legally protected species and cultural heritage is the most realistic alternative for swiftly supplying public dwellings."
Alongside filing the preservation application and the administrative lawsuit, residents also plan to seek meetings and submit petitions to the presidential office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the National Assembly's Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee and Environment and Labor Committee, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.