Hoehyeon-dong Launches 25.3 Billion Won Renewal of Aging Neighborhood After Namsan Height Restrictions Eased

A 63,944-square-meter aging low-rise residential area on Namsan's foothills
Expanding community infrastructure, including public parking facilities

Seoul's Jung-gu district, led by District Mayor Kim Gilseong, is moving ahead in earnest with the “Hoehyeon-dong New Village” project, investing 25.3 billion won in Hoehyeon-dong, where the easing of Namsan's height restrictions has reduced the regulatory burden.

Example of a smart parking tower planned for the site of Hoehyeon Daycare Center (AI-generated image). Provided by Jung-gu.

According to Jung-gu on October 15, the legal basis for the project was established when an amendment to the “Urban Regeneration Revitalization Plan for the Seoul Station Area,” which includes the project, was approved and publicly announced on October 8.

The project covers 63,944 square meters around 164 Hoehyeon-dong 1-ga. It is a typical aging, low-rise residential area on a steep slope on the foothills of Namsan. When the project was selected, 76.3% of the buildings were three stories or lower, and 87.3% were at least 20 years old. Full-scale redevelopment involving the complete demolition of the area was difficult because of the height restrictions and steep terrain.

After securing an easing of the height restrictions on Namsan in June 2024, Jung-gu applied for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's New Village project in October of that year and was selected in December as a national pilot project site. The district secured 25.3 billion won in funding from the national, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and district governments, but the plan had to be incorporated into a statutory urban regeneration plan before the funds could be used. The district drew up a proposal after holding a public hearing for residents and soliciting the Seoul Metropolitan Council's views. Last month, the proposal passed review by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Planning Committee.

The district has also made advance preparations for follow-up procedures, including public architectural reviews. By the end of October, it plans to install AI-powered intelligent CCTV systems at nine safety-vulnerable locations. Road maintenance work, including road paving and the installation of road heating cables, is also scheduled to begin in October and be completed by the end of the year.

The district will also expand community infrastructure in stages through 2029, including by building public parking facilities. At the Hoehyeon-dong Community Service Center site, it will build community amenities and a parking tower; at the Hoehyeon Daycare Center site, it will build a community facility and a parking tower. Both facilities will have two basement levels and three floors above ground. A design competition to select architectural plans for the two facilities will be held in October, and the district will also support improvements to aging homes.

New Village is a project that helps residents voluntarily improve their homes, rather than demolishing entire areas, in aging neighborhoods densely populated with detached houses and villas where redevelopment or reconstruction is difficult. The government, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and district governments expand infrastructure such as parking, pedestrian facilities, and safety infrastructure.

“Now that we have eased the regulations, it is time to deliver changes residents can feel,” District Mayor Kim Gilseong said. “We will move swiftly to improve everyday infrastructure, including parking, pedestrian access, and safety, and actively support improvements to aging homes.”

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