Yongsan Park housing plan: South Korea minister clarifies limited scope
Synopsis
South Korea's Land Minister has moved to contain a political firestorm over Yongsan Park, insisting only already-developed pockets — not green land — are on the table for housing. With Seoul's mayor opposed and 230,000 homes promised for the metro area, the government faces a narrow path between its supply targets and the city's green-space politics.
Key Takeaways
Land Minister Kim Yun-duk confirmed on Wednesday that only already-developed or repurposed sites within Yongsan Park are under consideration for housing.
The minister explicitly denied plans to bulldoze green areas, calling such reports untrue.
Yongsan Park spans approximately 3 million square metres , built largely on land returned from the former US military garrison .
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has openly opposed housing development on central Seoul green areas; Kim plans to meet him on Thursday .
The government's broader housing plan targets more than 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area .
South Korea's Land Minister Kim Yun-duk on Wednesday clarified that the government is considering only limited housing development on portions of Yongsan Park in central Seoul that have already lost their function as green spaces — firmly rejecting claims of a large-scale bulldozing plan. The statement came during a parliamentary committee session at the National Assembly, amid growing public concern over the fate of one of the capital's most significant urban parks.
What the Minister Actually Said
Kim was unambiguous in distancing the government from more alarming characterisations of the proposal. 'It is not true that the government is pushing to build houses by bulldozing green areas in Yongsan Park,' he told the committee. The minister said the review is focused on sites within or around the park that are already developed or repurposed — specifically citing former officers' residences, military housing units, and the former premises of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration.
On greenbelt land more broadly, Kim said the government could consider areas that have 'already lost much of their environmental value,' while committing to preserve ecologically significant green spaces.
About Yongsan Park
The park, which spans approximately 3 million square metres — equivalent to roughly 420 football fields — sits largely on land returned after the former US military garrison vacated the site. Its scale and central location have made it a focal point of Seoul's urban planning debates for years. Any development on even a fraction of its footprint carries substantial political and environmental weight.
Seoul Mayor's Opposition
Minister Kim acknowledged that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has openly opposed developing green areas in central Seoul for housing purposes. Kim said he plans to meet Mayor Oh on Thursday to discuss the proposal — a conversation that will likely determine how far the government can push its housing agenda without triggering a direct conflict with city authorities.
The Broader Housing Push
The Yongsan review is part of a wider government strategy to supply more than 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area. The plan involves accelerating development on public land, selectively easing greenbelt restrictions, and supporting private-sector housing projects. This comes amid persistent housing affordability pressures in Seoul, where property prices have remained elevated despite earlier cooling measures.
The outcome of Thursday's ministerial-mayoral meeting is expected to shape the next phase of the housing plan, with both political and environmental implications for the capital's skyline.
Point of View
But the government's strategy of incrementally reframing what counts as non-green land risks eroding public trust in its greenbelt commitments. The Thursday meeting with Mayor Oh is the real test: if the city and Centre cannot align, the 230,000-home target for the metro area faces a credibility problem, not just a planning one.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Korean government proposing for Yongsan Park?
The government is considering limited housing development on portions of Yongsan Park that have already been developed or lost their green-space function — such as former military housing and administrative sites. It has not proposed bulldozing active green areas within the park.
Why is Yongsan Park significant?
Yongsan Park spans about 3 million square metres in central Seoul, largely on land returned after a former US military garrison relocated. Its size and location make it one of the most politically and environmentally sensitive urban spaces in South Korea.
What is Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's position on the plan?
Mayor Oh Se-hoon has openly opposed developing green areas in central Seoul for housing. Land Minister Kim Yun-duk planned to meet the mayor on Thursday to discuss the proposal and seek alignment.
How many homes is the South Korean government targeting for the Seoul area?
The government's housing plan calls for supplying more than 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area through public land development, selective greenbelt easing, and private-sector project support.
What sites within Yongsan Park are being reviewed for housing?
According to Minister Kim, the sites under review include former officers' residences, military housing units, and the former premises of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration — all already developed or repurposed land.
