Seoul, South Korea – Guro District in Seoul is set to embark on a major development project for the approximately 125,000 square meter site of the Dok-san-dong Air Force Base, a long-standing local aspiration.
The district announced on November 27th that the base site, which has been restricted due to existing urban planning regulations, now has the potential for creative and innovative development. "With active cooperation and administrative support from government agencies and Seoul City, we will pursue this project at a rapid pace," said Guro District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon.
The Air Force's 3rd Missile Defense Brigade has been stationed in Dok-san-dong, Guro District since 1943. Guro District has been pursuing plans to relocate the base and develop the site, but has struggled to find another suitable location in the metropolitan area.
Since 2021, the district has shifted its focus to a plan that involves compactly relocating the base and developing the remaining land. When the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the "Spatial Innovation Zone Pilot Project" last year, Guro District applied to have the Air Force base site designated as a pilot project.
Spatial Innovation Zones are areas designated by the government where development can proceed freely, regardless of existing urban development regulations such as floor area ratio and building coverage ratio. The Air Force base was included in the list of pilot projects announced by the Ministry in July.
Since August, Guro District has been conducting resident briefings at 10 local community centers. By the end of the year, they plan to conduct an online survey of all citizens to gather opinions on the development of the Air Force base site. The district aims to finalize a spatial restructuring plan for the base site by next year, followed by reviews by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City, with the goal of finalizing the plan in 2026.
Guro District plans to create a mixed-use development on the remaining land after compacting the Air Force base, including industrial, commercial, and residential facilities. To foster innovative and creative companies, the district aims to develop the area into an IT and advanced industry hub, linked to G-Valley, which includes the Gasan Digital Complex. Given that 94% of G-Valley workers commute from outside Guro District, the district also plans to develop large-scale residential complexes to facilitate work-live balance.
"By developing the Air Force base site into a rear industrial base for G-Valley, we will strengthen the city's competitiveness and create a new central hub in southwestern Seoul where jobs are created," said Guro District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon.
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