[Report] "Will Become 'Dal-dongne of Gangnam' vs. 'Unprecedentedly Favorable Location'"... Mixed Reactions to Tancheon Water Reclamation Center Redevelopment

Excellent Transit Access and Elite School Zone Locations
Residents: "There Are Already Many Small-Scale Apartments"
Finding a Substitute Site for the Water Reclamation Center Is Also an Issue

Just a five-minute walk from Daecheong Station on Seoul Subway Line 3, Maru Park, lush with green trees, is located near the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center in Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Local residents using sports facilities, walking trails, and children's playgrounds can be seen throughout the area.

A view of the sewage treatment facility at the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center in Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, visited on the 26th. Photo by Simsang A

This site has recently drawn attention after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon proposed it as an alternative to the Yongsan Park site during a meeting with Kim Yoon-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The Tancheon Water Reclamation Center is an extensive sewage treatment facility, covering approximately 393,000 square meters—larger than the Children's Garden (300,000 square meters) within Yongsan Park. The city of Seoul has announced its plan to transform this space into a mixed-use complex that will feature advanced industry and research & development (R&D) facilities, as well as up to 13,000 youth housing units.

The location conditions observed by the reporter at the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center were deemed highly favorable. It is located in an area immediately adjacent to Line 3, with easy access to the Dongbu Expressway, and Suseo Station is nearby. Cross the Tancheon stream, and you immediately enter the Jamsil residential area; meanwhile, in the direction of Yangjaecheon, it connects to the Daechi-dong education district. Additionally, Samsung Medical Center is within a 15-to-20-minute walking distance, and the area boasts prestigious schools such as Joongdong High School and Younghee Elementary School.

As the site was publicized as a candidate for new housing supply, local residents showed mixed reactions. While there are occasional complaints about noise and odor, many expressed concerns about side effects that could arise if a large-scale public housing complex is developed there. The vicinity of Daecheong Station is already densely surrounded by large apartment complexes such as Samik Daecheong Apartment, Gaepo Hanshin Apartment, and DH JAI Gaepo.

Im, a resident in his 60s, said, "There have been a lot of complaints from residents about the odor from the Water Reclamation Center," adding, "Given the site's good location, it would be beneficial if it were developed."

However, not all responses were positive. Chung Hyun-yong (aged 57) remarked, "Even now, the area gets crowded during rush hour, and if a large complex with over 10,000 units is built, traffic will become even more difficult." Another resident, Kim, in his 50s, commented, "If the housing targets young people or newlyweds, it will ultimately be a large-scale rental housing project," expressing concern that "it could negatively affect home prices."

Nearby real estate agents also expressed concerns that "it will have a negative impact on property values." The representative of a real estate agency in Irwon-dong said, "While I agree with developing the area, there are already many small-sized apartments such as Daechi rental apartments, Suseo Apartments, and the 9th Complex civil servant rental apartments. Irwon-dong property prices are relatively lower even within Gangnam-gu, so there is growing concern that additional housing will further reduce its value, making it resemble a 'Dal-dongne' (shantytown) within Gangnam."

Finding an alternative site for the Water Reclamation Center also remains a challenge. Minister Kim Yoon-duk stated, "Selecting a relocation site is even more difficult," noting that the project is likely to face obstacles. In response, the city of Seoul emphasized that unlike the Yongsan Park lot, which is complicated by U.S. military return issues and other diplomatic variables, this project can proceed without delay. The Water Reclamation Center is a critical national environmental facility, and the project to relocate and move it underground is currently undergoing a private investment eligibility review. The results are expected as early as the end of this year.

The city of Seoul is also actively securing funding for the project. Mayor Oh explained, "To cover the relocation of the Water Reclamation Center and the development of a youth-specialized industrial complex in the southeastern region, we plan to raise approximately 5.5 trillion won by selling city-owned sites nearby, such as the Dongbu Road Office and SETEC," adding, "We have already established a master plan, and the private investment eligibility review is expected to wrap up around the end of the year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.