Government to review youth housing on part of Yongsan Park, setting up clash with Seoul City

He said the government will review whether limited youth housing could be an option in areas that have already lost their function as park and green space.

Minister Kim stressed that the government is in no way planning to clear the green space across Yongsan Park to build homes, and made clear that development will not undermine the park's original purpose. His remarks, coming alongside the government's additional housing plan, have heightened public interest in how Yongsan Park land will be used.

He said it was important to make good use of this precious land and stressed the need for efficient use of the Yongsan Park site.

Secretary Ha's remarks reaffirm that the government is considering the Yongsan Park site as one pillar of its housing supply, and are read as signaling its determination to push ahead with the policy.

He dismissed the idea that the failure to bring down home prices should be blamed on Yongsan Park, and criticized the current government housing policy for failing to offer a fundamental solution.

Mayor Oh's remarks show a wide gap between Seoul City and the government over housing supply policy, suggesting difficulties ahead in the two sides' consultations.

This position is a housing supply solution distinct from the government's Yongsan Park plan and clearly shows the direction of supply policy Seoul City is pursuing.

Both sides are expected to discuss the matter in search of common ground between the government's additional housing plan and Seoul City's opposition.

The meeting is expected to be an important occasion to reconcile the disagreement over housing policy between the government and Seoul City and to decide the final direction for using the Yongsan Park site. The outcome could significantly change the course of future housing supply policy, so attention is high.

This is read as an attempt to build a legal and institutional basis for the government's move to review housing on the Yongsan Park site.

Whether the special act amendment passes will have a major impact on the Yongsan Park land-use plan and is expected to affect future discussions between the government and Seoul City.