A pedestrian looks at rows of funeral wreaths standing outside the entrance to Yongsan Children’s Park in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Aug. 9, in protest of the government’s consideration of housing development at Yongsan Park.NEWS1
Build homes here, raise taxes there — Seoul is reaching a boiling point. The government’s latest tax overhaul and housing supply measures, released earlier this month, have sparked a backlash across the capital.
Residents in the affluent Gangnam District, southern Seoul, targeted by tax increases, are being offered information sessions on the new tax codes as district offices try to ease growing concerns. Across town in Gangseo District, western Seoul, where a new public housing site has been designated, residents are asking, “Why us again?”
From existing housing sites in Nowon District, northern Seoul, to potential targets such as Yongsan Park in Yongsan District, central Seoul, opposition is spreading across the capital. Seoul’s real estate tensions have become a powder keg.
The backlash has been particularly fierce in Gangseo District, where Yeomchang Neighborhood Park was designated as a new public housing site under the latest housing supply measures.
The government plans to build 1,000 public housing units on 51,000 square meters (12.6 acres) of land at the park. But the government’s decision was not the only thing that set residents off.
Jin Gyo-hoon, the Democratic Party (DP) mayor of Gangseo District, immediately welcomed the announcement, calling the project something residents had “long hoped for.”
That response poured fuel on the fire.
Residents have flooded the Gangseo District Office website with posts criticizing both the government and the district office for welcoming a plan that many locals strongly oppose.
The anger has deep roots. Yeomchang Neighborhood Park was approved as a privately operated park in 1990 but closed in 2009 after poor management by its operator. Ownership of the land was subsequently divided among multiple parties, and the damaged site was left neglected. Turning the site into a proper park had long been a wish of the local residents.
A view of the Yeomchang Neighborhood Park site in Gangseo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 13NEWS1
“[The government] told us a park or high school couldn’t be built because Yeomchang Neighborhood Park is privately owned, and now you want to build public rental housing?” one resident wrote on the Gangseo District website. “Does it make any sense to ignore local residents and just tell us to shut up and accept public housing?”
Other residents directed their anger at Jin, the district mayor.
“Didn’t you campaign on a promise to build a park and win our votes?” one resident wrote.
“Is a former police officer scamming his own constituents?” another resident wrote, referencing Jin's career as a police official. “Before offering us up as a sacrifice to the Lee Jae Myung administration, I hope you start acting like a proper district mayor.”
Online posts demanding the government withdraw its proposal to turn Yeomchang Neighborhood Park site in Gangseo District, western Seoul, into an apartment complex flood Gangseo District Office's website.SCREEN CAPTURE
The frustration extends beyond the online message board.
“Gayang, Deungchon and Banghwa neighborhoods [in Gangseo District] already have plenty of public housing,” a Gangseo District resident surnamed Lee said. “Why us again? If the government tells us to shut up and accept more housing, are local residents just supposed to shut up and take it?”
The anger is not limited to residents. Local real estate agents are feeling it, too.
“Whenever real estate comes up, you can’t help but curse the government,” a local real estate agent said. “I can’t say too much because I’m afraid I’ll get arrested.”
And the anger is hardly confined to Seoul’s newest housing sites.
Residents around locations designated more than six months ago for public housing site, such as Nowon District and Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, are still fighting the government’s plans.
A view of the Taereung Golf Course site in Nowon District, northern Seoul, on Aug. 13YONHAP
The government announced plans on Jan. 29 to build 6,800 homes near Taereung Golf Course in Nowon District and 9,800 homes in Gwacheon. Residents from the two areas plan to join forces for a rally outside the National Assembly and DP headquarters on Aug. 28 to protest the plans.
Yongsan District is also beginning to boil.
Land Minister Kim Yun-duk’s remarks on Friday only turned up the heat. After Kim said the government is “considering all of Yongsan Park” as a potential housing site, opposition among Yongsan residents intensified.
Residents protest government's proposal to turn Yongsan Park into apartment complexes, in front of Yongsan Children's Park in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Aug. 8.NEW1
“If the government actually announces a policy to destroy green space and build housing, more than a few of my neighbors are ready to take to the streets,” a Yongsan District resident surnamed Lee said.
The battle takes a different form south of the Han River, where homeowners have taken a harder hit.
Gangnam and Seocho districts are fighting a different battle — not over new homes, but higher taxes. The two district offices are stepping in to address growing concerns among residents hit by the government’s tax increases.
Gangnam District Office will hold a real estate tax briefing for 500 residents at the Gangnam Community Center on Sept. 18. The event comes after the Aug. 3 tax overhaul significantly increased the tax burden on owners of high-priced homes and fueled growing frustration among residents.
The New Hyundai Apartment Complex 12, located in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, is one of the most expensive apartment units in Korea.NEWS1
Seocho District Office will hold three tax code info sessions throughout the district: at the Seocho Culture & Arts Center on Aug. 25, the Korea Association of Property Appraisers building on Aug. 28 and the Simsan memorial cultural center on Sept. 9.
Seocho District is also inviting its residents to submit their views through the district website, its property tax division and local community service centers. The district office is effectively being left to address residents’ anxiety over unexpected tax increases.
Experts warn that announcing major real estate policies without first consulting local governments and residents risks inflaming tensions further.
“The government continues to unilaterally hand down policies without consulting local governments or residents,” Lee Eun-hyeong, a researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy, said. “Beyond increasing housing supply figures on paper, the measures will do little to actually stabilize housing and could only deepen social conflict.”
BY KIM JUN-YOUNG [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
