Seoul - 4.2 Redevelopment of Gangbuk’s Original Urban Center

Even after the Liberation and the War, Gangbuk’s original urban center enjoyed the status as the top political, cultural, social, financial and educational area in Korea: not only were the Blue House, the government building and other public institutions located there but also Chungmuro and Myeong-dong were still the center of commerce. The financial institutions were in Namdaemunro, Jongno was the commercial and cultural center, and prestigious educational facilities, high schools and colleges were also found there. Various problems including the absence of proper road system, traffic congestion and shortage of public facilities surfaced as a result of urbanization and repeated superficial expansion such as the numerous unauthorized, unsafe shacks that were built in the city and in the highlands of the hills near the city.

A large-scale urban center redevelopment project was launched for the effective land use of the urban center and the recovery of the proper functioning of the urban system. The urban center redevelopment project that involved 2,050,420 square meters in 32 areas was executed from 1973 to 1979. As a result, the urban organizational units became mid-sized household land parcels, and the organically formed streets along the waterways disappeared. The urban center of the past, which served as the political center, transformed to commerce and administrative centers and the new skyscrapers built right next to cultural heritage sites created disharmony with the traditional scenery.

One by one many of the urban center functions that used to be concentrated in Gangbuk began moving to Gangnam for the stable development of the new Gangnam urban area. The financial center moved to Yeouido from Namdaemun; the National Assembly and the government administrative body moved to Yeouido and Gwacheon; Seoul National University, Gyeonggi High School, Seoul High School and other prestigious educational institutions moved to Gangnam; the cultural and economic centers also moved to Gangnam and the Teheranno area. The old urban center experienced gradual yet inevitable decline as Gangnam emerged as the political, cultural and economic center.