Controversy Over Zoning Change for the Park Site in Front of JYP's New Headquarters

Controversy is growing over Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) as the site of the park that had been planned in front of JYP Entertainment's new headquarters has been changed to commercial land. Professor Yoo Hyunjoon of Hongik University, the architect in charge of designing the new headquarters, strongly criticized the move, saying it is inappropriate to change a park intended for future generations in order to secure funding. The land in question is a selfsufficient district 8 site in Godeokdong, Gangdonggu. It was originally designated as a neighborhood park, but SH changed it to a selfsufficient facility site where a hotel, exhibition hall, retail facilities, and other establishments could be built, and received approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It is separated from the JYP new headquarters site by one road. SH had tried to sell the site to a private company, but the bid failed in the public notice issued last February because there were no bidders. Residents' reactions are also divided. Some residents are currently collecting signatures asking for it to be changed back to park land, while others are expressing concern that even if the new headquarters moves in, it will be hard to expect any effect on revitalizing the local commercial district and that only rents may rise. SH said that at present it has no plan to revert the site to a park, and that it is difficult to conclude that converting it into commercial land would be negative for local revitalization.