"Great Transit, But One Thing Remains"... First Complaint From Residents at Gangnam Tancheon Center [Report]

[Financial News] On the 27th, at Tancheon Water Reclamation Center in Gangnam, Seoul, a strong odor hit as soon as one stepped inside. The station is only about five minutes away, but resolving the smell problem is likely to be key if the site is to be developed into a residential area. Workers met there said, "The smell gets worse when it rains or when the air pressure is low," and added, "Today, it is not especially bad."
■ A close look at the controversial Tancheon Water Reclamation Center
Tancheon Water Reclamation Center in Gangnam, Seoul, is the alternative site Seoul Metropolitan Government Mayor Oh Se-hoon has put forward, saying it could supply up to 13,000 homes as he opposes housing development at Yongsan Park. Located in Ilwon-dong, Gangnam District, and backed by Daemosan, the site is also within a five-minute walk of Daecheong Station on Line 3, giving it strong location advantages.
The center, which was toured in person that day, was larger than expected. Its land area alone is 393,000 square meters, and it took well over an hour for an adult man to walk around it. For comparison, Songpa Helio City covers about 346,570 square meters, making this site roughly 46,000 square meters larger.
On one side of the center stood rows of residential buildings. These are homes for employees and their families. Each building housed 10 households, with two households on each floor, giving the complex a spacious feel. There was also a playground on one side of the compound.
For the first time, reporters entered the site and interviewed residents inside the compound. Most said transportation was convenient, though some voiced complaints and disappointment.
Mr. Lim, who has lived there for more than a year, said, "It is a good place to live because transportation is convenient," adding, "There is no odor in the residential area, and the parking space is also wide." Another resident, identified only as A, mainly uses a bicycle to get to Line 3. He said, "It takes only five minutes to get to the subway," and added, "The transportation is really good."
■ "If 13,000 homes come in, traffic will become even more congested"
However, not all opinions were positive. Mr. Park, a man in his 30s who lives there with his child, said, "If residential housing is to be built here, the road at the entrance should be improved first." He added, "This road is too narrow and inconvenient right now." He continued, "There are large apartment complexes nearby, so traffic is not smooth even now, and if 13,000 homes are added, it will become even more congested."
As of that day, the area around the center was already lined with large apartment complexes of around 1,000 households each, including 802-unit Gaepo Woosung 7th, 1,996-unit THE H Xi Gaepo, 822-unit Samik Daecheong Apartment, and 1,758-unit Seongwon Daechi 2 Complex Apartment. The presence of a church right in front of Daecheong Station is another reason some fear traffic inconvenience will worsen.
Meanwhile, residents near Tancheon have been sharply criticizing the housing proposal. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the industry are gaining support for a direction that would prioritize public housing for young people and newlyweds if homes are supplied at Tancheon. A resident identified as B near Tancheon in Gangnam said, "Is Yongsan Park the only place that matters, and Gangnam residents do not matter?" and added, "Tancheon is a space that gives us healing." As complaints grew, a funeral wreath criticizing the plan was also placed at National Assembly station that day.
Concerns are also rising because the relocation site has not yet been finalized. According to the industry, the center is currently being considered for relocation to areas such as Segok-dong in Gangnam.


[email protected] Kwon Jun-ho, Choi Ga-young Reporter