Following the Seoul city government, Yongsan District also said it opposes the central government's review of Yongsan Park as a candidate site for supplying dwellings.
On the 15th, Yongsan District issued a statement saying it "expresses deep regret that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the ministry would review not only the Children's Garden within Yongsan Park but the entire park as a candidate site for supplying dwellings, and strongly opposes this direction."
Yongsan District said, "Yongsan Park is the last large national park in downtown Seoul to return to the people after 120 years," adding, "A national symbolic space that will hold the history and future of the Republic of Korea, Yongsan Park should not be viewed from the perspective of 'is there land that can be used for supplying dwellings.'" It continued, "Once Yongsan Park is damaged, it cannot be restored," and "Dwellings can be additionally supplied in other areas, but a large downtown national park that is a national symbolic space and to be passed down to future generations cannot be rebuilt once lost."
Yongsan District said, "If there is a need to supply dwellings, we should first find ways to enhance both the city's functions and public interest, such as revitalizing reconstruction and redevelopment in existing downtown areas and expanding new dwelling supply through maintenance projects," adding, "We will respond firmly to any development push that harms Yongsan Park's original value and identity."
Earlier, immediately after a press briefing by Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the Seoul city government said, "It requires great caution to damage Yongsan Park, the last large green space in downtown Seoul, to supply dwellings."
At a press briefing on the 1st anniversary of taking office the previous day, Minister Kim, referring to the review of supplying dwellings within the Yongsan Park site, said, "It is not limited to the Children's Garden; we are keeping the entire Yongsan Park open for consideration," adding, "There are many hurdles to clear, including consultations with U.S. Forces, contamination remediation, and talks with the National Assembly and the Seoul city government, Yongsan District, and the Ministry of National Defense, but we will keep all possibilities open and review them for supply."