Standing on a third-floor shop rooftop overlooking the Jangwi 9 public redevelopment site on November 4, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung inspected the area and declared that metropolitan housing price stability remains a core priority surpassing all other tasks.
President Lee Jae-myung Inspects Jangwi 9 Public Redevelopment Site
President Lee visited the Seoul Seongbuk-guk district to review project progress and held an on-site roundtable meeting with residents and experts, as briefed in writing by Blue House Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryung. The visit aimed to examine the on-site conditions of urban redevelopment—a key tool for urban housing supply—and explore ways to speed up housing delivery. During the inspection, the President received project status reports from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).
During the rooftop inspection, the President emphasized that public redevelopment reduces corruption risks and accelerates project timelines. He noted that urban redevelopment requires strong administrative capacity, including expanding LH staffing for project execution. He urged the swift processing of pending legislative bills in the National Assembly, such as the Urban Redevelopment Act, to help drive project momentum.
Did You Know? President Lee pointed out during the site visit that urban redevelopment projects often drag on for 10, 20, or even 30 years under conventional methods, prompting calls for strict administrative streamlining and expedited legal processing.
Addressing Jangwi 10 and Sarang Jeil Church Disputes
Expanding on past urban conflicts, President Lee addressed the Jangwi 10 redevelopment project where Sarang Jeil Church had previously opposed expropriation and blocked enforcement actions. According to Yonhap News reports, the church demanded compensation exceeding appraised values and resisted court-ordered eviction through protracted legal battles before Seongbuk-guk modified its plans in June of last year to exclude the church property.
Criticizing the exclusion, President Lee stated that allowing projects to bend rules through prolonged physical resistance is unacceptable in a constitutional state. He instructed Mayor Lee Seung-ro to ensure strict future enforcement. Meanwhile, Sarang Jeil Church responded through a public statement referencing the presidential remarks and countering that authorities should face trial first.
Expert Insight: The friction between public authority and private resistance highlights the ongoing friction in South Korea’s urban renewal efforts. While administrative bodies push for speed and legal consistency, entrenched local disputes frequently force painful compromises that alter urban design and stretch municipal resources.
Streamlining Public Redevelopment and Private Conversions
At the subsequent roundtable meeting held at the Jangwi 3-dong community center, participants discussed administrative hurdles, construction cost pre-verifications, dispute prevention, resident financial burdens, and tenant housing stability.
President Lee also advocated for enhanced financial and floor-area-ratio (용적률) incentives for projects that move quickly. Alongside these measures, the Prime Minister’s Office plans to operate a housing policy control tower to address local manpower shortages.
President Lee inspects the Jangwi 9 redevelopment district
What specific site did President Lee inspect on November 4, 2026?
President Lee inspected the Jangwi 9 public redevelopment district located in Seongbuk-guk, Seoul, and also reviewed plans concerning the adjacent Jangwi 10 and Jangwi 14 redevelopment areas.
Which government officials attended the on-site roundtable meeting?
Attendees included Land Minister Hong Ji-sun, lawmaker Kim Nam-geun, Seongbuk-guk Mayor Lee Seung-ro, LH President Lee Seong-hun, Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun, and Policy Chief Ha Jun-kyung.
What policy change was discussed regarding private redevelopment projects?
The President ordered a review of institutional improvements allowing communities currently pursuing private redevelopment—such as Jangwi 14—to transition into public redevelopment without discarding previous resident consent or facing procedural delays.
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