Proposed site for culture landmark

Location: 49-1 Songhyeon-dong, Jongno

Size: 37,142 square meters (9 acres)

History

Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) Area used for housing royal families, government officials and royal organizations

Japanese colonization (1910-1945) Residences for employees of Chosen Shokusan Bank

1948-1970s Residences for employees of U.S. Embassy in Seoul

2000 Samsung Life Insurance buys land for 140 billion won ($131 million)

2008 Korean Air buys land for 290 billion won

2010 Korean Air submits plan for “cultural landmark” to Jongno District Office; Jungbu District Office of Education rejects plan; Korean Air officials meet with Kim Young-jong, the mayor of Jongno District Office, asking for help

2010-2012 Korean Air files lawsuits against Jungbu District Office of Education and loses all three lawsuits

2012 Government proposes a regulation that would allow building tourist hotels, which do not have entertainment facilities, in school zones

August 2013 Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho asks President Park Geun-hye to allow the building of a landmark in Songhyeon during her meeting with top conglomerate chiefs

September Park orders authorities to seek ways to allow hotels in school zones at a meeting promoting trade and investment

November Park promotes the benefits of allowing hotels in school zones in her speech at the National Assembly