"Political No. 1 district," "the heart of Seoul." These are descriptors that always come up when describing Jongno District in Seoul. Sejong-daero, lined with media facades (Media Facade, large displays that project videos on building exteriors) stretching from Gwanghwamun to Seoul City Hall, shows the history of South Korea's development.
But the situation changes if you step just a little off Sejong-daero. You see an aging area where old shopping streets and residential zones are mixed. Efforts to push redevelopment to improve the residential environment often hit a wall called "cultural heritage protection." The conflict over the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment in front of Jongmyo, which recently stirred controversy, is a representative case.
Jung Moon-heon, head of the Jongno District Office, said, "The Sewoon District 4 maintenance plan is not about building as tall as possible," adding, "The key is to create a green axis of historical and cultural scenery connecting Jongmyo and Namsan, and to realize a skyline that harmonizes with Jongmyo."
According to Jongno District, the average building age of row houses and low-rise apartments in the district is 42 years. They say seven out of 10 buildings in Jongno were built in the 1980s or 1990s and are aging. Jung said, "Not a few residents, unable to endure the dilapidated environment, have left their beloved hometowns," and added, "Young people also do not want to live in such conditions." He continued, "If we lift height limits and combine several old houses to build anew, we can greatly improve the residential environment," adding, "Jongno's natural environment is so good. Areas with mountain foothills and palace walls can even be developed into affluent neighborhoods."
ChosunBiz met with Jung at The K Twin Tower, the temporary Jongno District Office, on the 1st to ask about the achievements of the eighth popularly elected term and local issues. The following is a Q&A.
―How would you assess the achievements so far in the eighth popularly elected term?
"As of the third quarter, we achieved an 89% pledge implementation rate and have already completed 46 of 63 pledges. These numbers are important, but what matters more is 'how much residents actually feel the change.' Personally, my most special memory is the Jongno Good Life Challenge with seniors."
―What is the Good Life Challenge?
"It is an event that opens a new meeting place for seniors. Seniors we met on-site said they struggled as much with loneliness and social isolation as with financial difficulties. Hearing that a meeting place would open, they came dressed up, excited. Some sought a partner, others sought friends. Even if they did not find a partner, they were grateful, saying they 'had a joyful and meaningful day.' I believe the true outcome of policy is not numbers in a report, but the expressions on people's faces and changes in their lives."
―Was there a reason you decided to pursue the Good Life project?
"Since entering politics in 2003, I have had all kinds of conversations with seniors for over 20 years. It is not that their hearts grow old. Their hearts are just like those of young people. Aging is a task we face. The senior population will continue to grow. We need to set the stage so they can enjoy themselves. Senior welfare must address loneliness alongside poverty."
―Is it going smoothly? It seems there would be many happenings, too.
"We have held the event three times from last year to this year. At the event in Oct., seven couples were formed. Seniors living in other parts of Seoul ask if they can participate. When we answer 'no,' they are quite disappointed. I think it would be good to expand such events nationwide."
―Among the pledges completed so far, what are the key outcomes?
"Resolving parking issues. As an old downtown with 630 years of history, building even a single parking lot was not easy due to numerous constraints. Even so, we secured a total of 586 parking spaces. The public parking lot in Sinyoung-dong, to be completed in the first half of next year, will be created as a living space that alleviates alley parking shortages and strengthens community functions for residents."
―Jongno attracts many tourists. Many residents must complain of inconveniences.
"At the center of all current policies in Jongno District are 'residents.' Protecting residents' daily lives is the top priority. Over the past 10 years, the Bukchon residential population has decreased by 26.2%. It is a shocking figure. As someone who knows the old appearance and value of Bukchon better than anyone, I took it as a warning."
―What policies did you implement in Bukchon?
"I thought we must protect Bukchon as 'a neighborhood where people live.' For the first time in the country, we designated Bukchon as a 'special management area.' We restricted tourist visiting hours and chartered bus traffic. There were concerns at the start of implementation, and there was confusion while settling the system. Now, a year later, changes on the ground are clear. The constant noise, congestion, and civil complaints have sharply decreased, and conflicts between residents and tourists have eased greatly."
―Protests and demonstrations are also cited as factors that worsen the residential environment.
"Personally, I believe supplementing and revising the Assembly and Demonstration Act is urgent. To reduce the damage from repeated protest noise, at least for schools and densely populated residential areas, we need clearer protection standards and restrictions. As impeachment-related protests went on for a long time last spring, the areas around Anguk Station and Bukchon were paralyzed. Not only local businesses, but children's commutes and residents' daily lives were threatened. Of course, I respect the freedom of assembly and demonstration, but it must not infringe on residents' 'right to tranquility.' Going forward, for acts that threaten residents' daily lives, I will actively respond by mobilizing all the authority vested in the district head."
―How are you pursuing development in Jongno? It seems there are many difficulties due to cultural properties.
"The most painful issue is 'aging.' As Jongno is a region where a significant portion of Seoul's cultural heritage is concentrated, strong regulations overlap across the city. The homes where residents live remain as row houses and low-rise apartments built in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, 70% of buildings in Jongno are old, and the average building age reaches 42 years. In poor conditions with old buildings and not a single parking lot, residents have had to endure pain instead of pride in 'living in Jongno,' or, unable to stand it, eventually leave their beloved hometowns. This is the most concrete and urgent problem I face."
―How have you responded so far?
"I thought we had to correct the irrationalities. We reviewed reasonable urban management measures and continuously proposed institutional improvements through constant consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. As a result, last year the height restrictions in Gugi and Pyeongchang and around Gyeongbok Palace were eased, and some building regulations in natural landscape districts were lifted. As constraints were relaxed, conditions were created to promote reconstruction and redevelopment at a reasonable level. Currently, through the 'Jongno-style rapid maintenance project,' Jongno District is pursuing redevelopment across 30 zones, totaling 19,360 households."
―The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Heritage Service are at odds over the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4.
"The Sewoon District 4 maintenance plan is not about building as high as possible. The key is to create a green axis of historical and cultural scenery connecting Jongmyo and Namsan and to realize an urban skyline that harmonizes with Jongmyo. This is a reasonable alternative that highlights the value of Jongmyo and restores fragmented urban functions."
―Such issues may continue to arise in the future.
"Times and realities have changed rapidly, and citizens' expectations for downtown have also changed. But regulations still remain in a past perspective. In terms of preservation, judging solely by the single physical yardstick of 'height' has reached its limit. Also, since more than 20 years have passed since the district designation in 2004, we must not overlook the suffering residents have endured. The 'public interest' of cultural heritage protection and the protection of residents' property rights are not matters where only one can be chosen unilaterally. Harmonizing the two values is the original purpose of urban planning. I will work so that this can become 'a new model answer for urban maintenance where history and life coexist.'"
―What is your stance on the Saegeomjeong–Gupabal Tunnel (formerly Eunpyeong New Road) construction project?
"Forcing the unilateral sacrifice of residents in one area for the transportation convenience of another area runs counter to administrative fairness. Jongno must not be reduced to a mere 'passage' for outside vehicles. In particular, despite being in central Seoul, Pyeongchang-dong and Buam-dong have no nearby subway and are severely underserved by bus routes, making them transportation blind spots. Even now Jahamun-ro is heavily congested; if the tunnel is connected without fundamental traffic measures, the bottleneck will only worsen. We will respond firmly until a definitive plan to minimize traffic burdens, one that residents can accept, is prepared."
―How should Jongno be developed going forward?
"Jongno is a place where history and dignity, nature and culture coexist. It is a good place to live. Even so, the reason Jongno's population remains around 140,000 is that the 'homes' available to live in are old and insufficient. If the residential environment is properly established, recovering an appropriate population of 200,000 is only a matter of time. Through development, we must equip modern conveniences. Some worry about haphazard development. But I trust the high civic consciousness of Jongno residents. Although they have sacrificed for many years due to cultural heritage protection and various regulations, they know the value of Jongno better than anyone. Residents will not tolerate haphazard development that lowers 'my asset value' and 'the neighborhood's dignity.'"