Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited Yongsan Children's Garden and analyzed problems with the government's plan to supply public dwellings inside Yongsan Park. The government earlier said it is reviewing supplying public dwellings at Yongsan Children's Garden, the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration site, military apartments, and the fifth complex of generals' quarters.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 24th released the "One-shot mayor — Yongsan Park edition" on the mayor's official website and on the social broadcast Live Seoul. It is a follow-up to "One-shot mayor" in July that addressed the real estate market diagnosis and solutions for supplying dwellings.
Oh said that considering the return of the U.S. military base and contaminated soil remediation, it could take as long as 10 years to break ground, making it hard to resolve the immediate shortage of dwelling supply.
He also emphasized that the Yongsan Park site is not land where dwellings can be supplied in a short period. Yongsan Children's Garden is a space where soil was spread over contaminated ground and grass was laid; to build dwellings and live there long-term, fundamental remediation is needed to excavate and treat contaminated soil containing harmful substances like dioxins. He added that severe traffic congestion is also a concern, saying, "Pushing ahead with dwelling supply without a precise plan is highly irresponsible."
Oh countered that the premise of the government's claim that it "intends to supply dwellings by using damaged land" is itself wrong. He said, "The planned Yongsan Park site is a place designated to be restored into a green park with grass and trees by removing remaining buildings and concrete, so to regard it as already damaged land just because there are facilities distorts the purpose of creating Yongsan Park."
He also highlighted Yongsan Park's historical value. Oh said Yongsan Park covers about 3 million square meters, or 900,000 pyeong, a size that could contain about 13 Yeouido Parks, adding, "This is a space that holds historical pain where Qing forces, the Japanese military, and U.S. forces were stationed for more than 120 years, and we must preserve its historicity and naturalness and pass it down to future generations."
He also argued that Yongsan Park should be preserved as originally planned, as it can become a symbolic green space in the heart of the city like Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London.
Oh said green spaces like Yongsan Park must be preserved to respond to climate change and heat waves. Oh said, "Neighborhoods with ample shade and lots of grass and trees have average temperatures that differ by more than 2 to 3 degrees," adding, "Because securing abundant green space is directly connected to the quality of life for urban residents, we intend to create and preserve Yongsan Park as originally planned."
As alternatives for supplying dwellings, Oh proposed ▲ supporting groundbreaking for 310,000 units through redevelopment projects ▲ securing sites by transfer of urban infrastructure such as water reclamation centers ▲ expanding youth dwelling supply and financial support.
Oh said, "I feel a responsibility that if I agree to convert even part of Yongsan Park into a site for apartments, I will become a sinner before history for a long time," adding, "If citizens support the Seoul Metropolitan Government's position through public opinion, it will be a great help in protecting Yongsan Park."