Hong Ji-seon: "Yongsan Park Site Needs to Be Considered Separately from the Tancheon Site"

[Financial News] Hong Ji-seon, nominee for minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said of a housing supply plan using Yongsan Park, "Given Seoul's severe housing shortage, we need to consider whether the Yongsan Park site could contribute to housing stability for young people and future generations, separately from the Tancheon site."
In a written response submitted by Hong ahead of his confirmation hearing before the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly on the 14th, he said, "We will look into whether there are ways to contribute to housing stability for future generations while preserving the park's core areas," adding that this was the approach he would take.
He added, "I understand that the Yongsan Park site has significant potential to quickly provide a substantial amount of housing for young people and future generations. If I take office as minister, I plan to move forward after sufficient public discussion and the formation of public consensus."
Regarding the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government taking opposing positions over housing supply using parks and green spaces, including Yongsan Park, Hong said, "I understand that both the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government share the common goal of quickly supplying a sufficient volume of housing." He added, "I will review the discussions held with the Seoul Metropolitan Government so far and work out specific directions for further consultations."
On additionally lifting Greenbelt restrictions to expand housing supply in the Seoul metropolitan area, he said, "I believe that, when necessary to ensure housing stability for the public, we need to selectively lift restrictions on areas within the Greenbelt that have already been damaged and have low conservation value, and supply housing there."
He also responded to a question about expanding the residential function of the Yongsan International Business District (YIBD). Hong said, "Given Seoul's severe housing shortage, the YIBD is a large public site in a key location in Seoul with sufficient potential for housing supply. It is necessary to increase the volume of housing to help resolve Seoul's housing shortage."
He also said that housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area are linked to excessive concentration in the region. Hong explained, "I agree that the concentration of jobs and population in the Seoul metropolitan area can be one factor increasing housing demand and raising the burden of housing costs." He added, "Alongside the housing supply needed to stabilize housing conditions in the Seoul metropolitan area, efforts must also be made to ease demand concentrated in the region by establishing quality jobs and living infrastructure in local areas."
He also pledged to accelerate supply. "We will dramatically shorten the supply lag, mobilize all private and public supply capacity, make an all-out drive to accelerate housing supply our top priority, and devote every effort to increasing supply," he emphasized.
Regarding differences of opinion with the Seoul Metropolitan Government over Yongsan Park and other sites, he said, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government and we may have differing views on some aspects of the site-identification process, but I believe the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government share the same goal of supplying sufficient housing where people want it." He added, "I will focus on the common ground where we can cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and engage in active consultations."

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter