Chief Ha Says Public Resources Should Be Used Before Private Sale... Proposes Youth Housing in Yongsan

Blue House Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Kun-kyung stated on the 19th that the government intends to utilize state-owned land (public resources), such as the Yongsan Park site, as public assets to supply youth housing, rather than selling it off to the private sector. In an appearance on TV Chosun's 'News Parade,' Ha pointed out realistic limitations regarding management and costs for a proposal to turn the entire site into a park. Ha emphasized, 'It is important that this prime land is used well,' noting, 'If you consider making this large area entirely into a park, it would generate issues regarding security and social costs, making it very difficult to manage.'

Environmental purification costs were also cited as a major obstacle. Ha revealed, 'To create a park like Central Park, we need to remove pollutants, which would cost anywhere from several hundred billion won to trillions of won.' Regarding the scale, he explained, 'Yongsan Park is 910,000 pyeong, while the area inside the Yeouido embankment is 880,000 pyeong,' adding that land in the Yongsan area equivalent to the size of Yeouido also exists at Namsan and on U.S. military return sites.

He also left open the possibility of revising the current Special Act on Yongsan Park Creation, which limits the site's use to purposes other than a park. He suggested, 'We could consider inserting a clause that would allow excluding certain areas through review if there is a significant public purpose,' adding, 'We will need to reach an agreement through social discussion.'

On the morning of the 19th, the Blue House released a statement clarifying that no usage plan has been finalized yet. The Blue House announced, 'Regarding the utilization of Yongsan Park, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is currently conducting social discussions, including consultations with related agencies and gathering public opinion,' noting, 'Specific methods, entities, and timing for gathering public opinion, such as public opinion polls, have not yet been determined.'