Hanam Mayor Lee Hyunjae: "Accelerate Housing Supply in Gyosan New Town, but Build Transportation Networks First"

Hanam City: Housing project approvals completed for 26 of 39 blocks

Calls for traffic measures before Songpa-Hanam Line opens

Urges prompt finalization of community infrastructure expansion and business attraction plans

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province has urged the government and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to speed up housing supply in Gyosan New Town, a third-phase new town, while ensuring that transportation networks and essential community infrastructure are in place before residents move in. The city is also calling for plans to attract businesses to be finalized alongside housing supply, so Gyosan can become a self-sufficient city with jobs.

A view of Hanam City Hall. Courtesy of Hanam City.

At a press briefing on Oct. 26, Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae said, "Hanam City is ready to do everything it can to cooperate with the government's commitment to rapid housing supply. The government and LH should responsibly present not only the housing supply schedule but also plans for transportation networks, including the Songpa-Hanam Line, community infrastructure, and the development of a self-sufficient city."

According to the city, eight years have passed since the Gyosan New Town project was announced in 2018. However, housing supply remains slow, even though housing project approvals have been completed for 26 of the 39 apartment blocks in the area. The city said that no supply announcement has been made for any block other than Block A2, where initial subscriptions opened in May 2025. The first residents of Block A2 are scheduled to move in in June 2029.

The city said concerns among prospective residents are growing because permitting procedures for seven roads outside the district have not been completed and consultations on community infrastructure have yet to be finalized. The city said it would cooperate with the project, including by supporting permitting, as early supply is needed to ease housing costs.

However, the city emphasized that infrastructure expansion must not lag behind as housing supply is accelerated. It said the problems residents faced with traffic congestion and daily inconveniences when housing was completed ahead of transportation networks and community facilities during development of Misa, Gamil, and Wirye must not be repeated.

The city said it invested 490.6 billion won in its own funds, in prices at the time, to supplement the areas' inadequate infrastructure by building 24 community infrastructure facilities.

The Songpa-Hanam Line, a key transportation link for Gyosan New Town, is scheduled for completion in 2032, after the first residents move into Block A2. The city called for expanded bus services, road construction, improved transfer systems, and traffic-demand management measures to be in place before residents move in to reduce congestion ahead of the railway's opening. It also said roads, water and sewage systems, schools, parks, and community infrastructure facilities should be developed in line with move-in schedules for each area.

The city also identified securing the area's self-sufficiency as a key task. It urged the prompt finalization of the uses and supply schedule for land designated for self-sufficiency, as well as plans to attract businesses. It also called for Hanam City and LH to sign a business agreement on attracting companies, which has been delayed for years, and to draw up a roadmap for attracting industries and jobs.

The city also raised concerns over delays in consultations with LH on pending issues. It said that in March 2025, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport mediated a provisional agreement among the ministry, LH, and Hanam City to settle the issues collectively, but LH's president rejected it during the final approval process, leaving it stalled for more than 18 months.

Mayor Lee strongly urged, "Building on the lessons learned from the Misa, Gamil, and Wirye new towns, Gyosan New Town must ensure that essential infrastructure, including roads, water and sewage systems, and parks, is in place before residents move in area by area. The government and LH should responsibly present not only the housing supply schedule but also plans for transportation networks, including the Songpa-Hanam Line, community infrastructure, and the development of a self-sufficient city."

He added, "We will maintain ongoing consultations with the government and relevant agencies so that residents of Gyosan New Town can enjoy stable and convenient lives."

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