Gwonseon AB District to Proceed with Private Development Approach

Suwon City announced on the 7th that it will develop the Gwonseon AB District, spanning 987,493 square meters in front of the Suwon Express Bus Terminal in Gwonseon-dong and Gokbanjeong-dong areas of Gwonseon-gu, through a private development approach.

Following this decision, the Gwonseon AB District, located near the golf course of the Air Force's 10th Combat Flight Wing, is set to undergo full-scale development for the first time in over five years since Suwon City designated it as a development-restricted area in January 2002 by prohibiting all permits and approvals to prevent speculative booms and haphazard development.

Landowners in this district have long requested the city to pursue replotting-type development, but the city adhered to a compensation method, arguing that a feasibility study showed that "the district is subject to air force flight altitude restrictions and aviation noise areas, making replotting-type development impractical with too little available land for project viability." This stance created friction with landowners.

After the city began consulting work in February for designation as a residential complex district and at one point pursued public development, it ultimately accepted the landowners' demands to "approve the compensation method while allowing private-led development."

Going forward, the city will designate business operators and proceed with urban development projects through establishing development plans and authorizing implementation plans starting next year.

An official from the Urban Development Division said, "We will pursue mid- to low-density projects to ensure more environmentally friendly development compared to other areas and to create a pleasant urban environment."

Specific development details can be viewed at Suwon City's Urban Development Division (Inquiry: ☎031-228-3389).