Yongsan, located in downtown Seoul, means Dragon Hill. Yongsan or Yongsan-gu is also the site of Yongsan Garrison, a large United States military base. In the futuer, Yongsan will has the tallest building in Korean, and second tallest in the world, while now will be developed into an international business district.
On the 1.46 million-square-meter site around Yongsan subway station, a 620 meter-high landmark building, a hotel, business & residential facilities and large parks will be built.
The site is available for financial, telecom and entertainment companies. Its metropolitan transportation infrastructure and sufficient green space will make for an outstanding business environment.
If the plan is accepted, the proposed building will have 130-140 stories and become a new landmark for the city. The building is expected to promote growth in the area with the proposed construction of additional shopping malls and entertainment establishments in the Yongsan area where the U.S. military’s main base is located.
``If the building does not obstruct views of Mount Namsan from the Han River, it should have no problem being approved,’’ a city official said. ``Korail also asked us to designate residential areas adjacent to the new building, but it could affect transportation in the region. We will review the matter carefully,’’ he said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has said that the city needs new skyscrapers to strengthen its international competitiveness and draw more foreign tourists.
Buildings over 600 meters are very rare _ currently, the 508 meter-high Taipei Financial Center in Taiwan is the tallest building in the world with 101 stories while Dubai is constructing the 830 meter-high Burj Dubai Tower with 160 stories for completion before the end of next year.
Currently, the 234 meter-high Tower Palace apartment building in Togok-dong, southern Seoul, is the tallest building in Korea. However, construction projects for the 580 meter-high international business center in Sangam-dong, northern Seoul, and the 610 meter-high Inchon Tower in Songdo in the Inchon Free Economic Zone are being pushed.
“In Seoul, the planned 151-story Yongsan Landmark Building, at 2,046 feet, will tower over all the city’s existing structures, and even some nearby mountain peaks. “Seoul is the capital, so it must have the tallest building,” said Han Bong-seok, an executive at Korea Railroad, the national railway company, who heads the project to build the tower on the site of an old train yard. “This is for the pride of Seoul.
Yongsan Landmark Building Design Photos: