"The property value of the Mapo retention basin development project is more than 1 trillion won. We will build the five-story-above-ground Mapo365 Culture and Sports Center to return the full value of the space to citizens with a K-pop performance hall, a movie theater, an outdoor garden, and a public wedding hall."
Mapo District Chief Park Kang-su said this in an interview with ChosunBiz at Mapo District Office on the 15th about how to use the site of the Mapo retention basin public parking lot.
The Mapo retention basin public parking lot is located at the entrance of the restaurant alley in Yonggang-dong, Mapo District, along the Han River. In the prime location along the Han River, the site area reaches 20,160.8 square meters (about 6,100 pyeong). Including the adjacent rainwater pumping station site, the developable land exceeds 10,000 pyeong and is valued at 1 billion won per pyeong. That is why Park emphasizes "1 trillion won."
The land is owned by Mapo District, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government received it through contributed acceptance and has used it as a parking lot for 13 years since 2012. Park filed a lawsuit in 2023 to have the site returned and, after court-mediated settlement, got the land back.
Mapo District plans to build a large culture and sports facility on the existing parking lot site and a new sump facility on the rainwater pumping station site. The culture and sports facility will have four underground floors and five above ground, with sports facilities on floors 1 to 3 and a movie theater and performance hall on floors 4 and 5. An outdoor garden and wedding space will be created on the roof and opened as a resting area for residents.
The Mapo retention basin development plan is also part of the "Mapo riverside 8.2 project." The project aims to turn the 8.2-kilometer stretch of the Han River in Mapo, the longest among Seoul's autonomous districts, into a tourism and cultural attraction. Park said, "It is a project that must be pursued for the development of the Mapo area." The following is a Q&A with Park.
― How do you evaluate the district administration in the 8th popular election term?
"Since taking office, we have run the administration with five goals: prompt and friendly civil complaint resolution, clean governance, improvement of bad practices, 365 daily sports, and stronger welfare for the vulnerable. In the 2024 community survey by Statistics Korea, Mapo District ranked No. 1 among Seoul's 25 autonomous districts for the second year in a row in three categories: "life satisfaction," "happiness felt the previous day," and "overall life satisfaction." Satisfaction in the social welfare sector also ranked No. 1. I believe this is the result of the overall district administration working organically and bringing real changes to residents' daily lives."
― The ownership of the Mapo retention basin public parking lot was recently transferred.
"We plan to speed up efforts to reorganize the Mapo retention basin as a public asset for residents. In connection with the "Mapo riverside 8.2 project," which aims for riverside development and urban balance, we will demolish the above-ground parking lot and build the "Mapo365 Culture and Sports Center." At the same time, we will strengthen the sump function to expand the retention basin's original role and enhance heavy rain response capacity."
― What is the core of the Mapo riverside 8.2 project?
"Mapo has the longest length facing the Han River among Seoul's autonomous districts. It is a comprehensive development plan to systematically utilize the 8.2-kilometer riverside to enhance urban competitiveness. Key projects include improving the Mapo Terminal underpass environment, creating the Mapo365 Culture and Sports Center, expanding the Red Road in Dangin-dong, making the Dangin-ri Cultural Power Plant a cultural hub, creating the Jeoldusan Holy Site pilgrimage path, developing the former military base site, improving the Mangwon underpass, creating a leisure zone in World Cup Park, a sports town in Nanjicheon Park, and a landscape waterfall in World Cup Stream."
― Policy consistency seems important because this is a long-term project.
"For local governments, sustainability is more important than short-term results. Mapo District is a core area in northwestern Seoul where culture, industry, environment, and transportation are advanced, and it has very high growth potential, but it also faces complex challenges such as aging infrastructure and environmental conflicts. Therefore, there is a need to manage policies, budgets, and projects in an integrated manner through long-term plans that look 10 to 20 years ahead."
― There are concerns that urban development could increase housing costs.
"Urban development raises regional value but can come with the side effect of rising housing costs. Beyond a development-centered approach, a balanced growth strategy that considers housing stability and social inclusion together is needed. Policies to reduce living costs, such as supporting original residents to resettle and easing expenses for education, culture, and sports facilities, also need to be pursued in parallel."
― What are the measures for the burden on small business owners?
"We must put in place buffers so that changes in commercial districts do not threaten the survival of small business owners. We are focusing on revitalizing the alley economy by creating specialized streets that leverage Mapo's unique characteristics. We are also implementing a 25 billion won special credit guarantee, 4 billion won in small and midsize business development fund support, and a temporary reduction in rent for shared assets."
― What would you cite as representative success cases?
"Since taking office, I have emphasized that "streets must live for the city to live and the economy to live." Hongdae's "Red Road" began with the goal of commercial district recovery and safety and has become a landmark visited by 52% of foreign tourists. Hapjeong-dong's "Sky Road" also ranked No. 1 in sales growth among Seoul's local brand commercial districts, becoming a representative case of commercial revitalization."
― What are your future goals?
"A district chief must be not only an administrator but also a good manager of public finances. The city's future depends on where we spend limited resources. I will run the district administration with sustainable growth of Mapo in mind, not stopping at one-off results. I believe that "if you do your best, there are no regrets even if you fail, and if you don't do your best, regrets remain even if you succeed." I want to remain to the end a district chief without regrets, an administrator who serves residents."