Redevelopment Stirs Controversy in Seoul’s Last Red-Light District

Last year, a relocation of residents began due to the redevelopment of Miari Texas, the last red-light district in Seoul.

This project, also known as the Shinwolgok District 1 Redevelopment, will see the construction of Lotte Castle apartments by Lotte Construction in this historically significant area.

However, contrary to the initial plan, there is a high possibility that the construction could be delayed.

According to recent JTBC News, some establishments within the Miari Texas area undergoing redevelopment are refusing to relocate, demanding compensation. Some members of the local merchants association are also demanding compensation from the redevelopment association.

It has been reported that business owners who relocated first received compensation in the range of $17,000 to $26,000.

The resident relocation plan, which started in October 2023, was originally intended to be completed by February of this year, followed by demolition work.

Lotte Construction has won the contract for this project. The development will center around 2,244 Lotte Castle apartments, ranging from six underground floors to 47 above ground, with community facilities included.

Civic groups speculate that women working in the red-light district refuse to relocate due to the stigma associated with prostitution, saying, “They lack other social resources, career experience, or education, so there is a fear of doing even something trivial because of the stigma against women in prostitution.”

In 2017, Seongbuk District enacted the Ordinance on the Prevention of Prostitution and Support for Victims of Prostitution, and Seoul City revised the Ordinance on the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Protection and Support for Victims in 2021. However, it is claimed that these ordinances have not yet been enforced.

Nonetheless, Lee Seung Ro, the current mayor of the Seongbuk District Office, is showing a proactive attitude towards the Shinwolgok District 1 Redevelopment project. In an interview with the media, he expressed confidence, stating, “This project will wash away the stigma of being a sex trade hub and will symbolize the changed status of Seongbuk District as a landmark complex.”

According to the real estate industry, Seongbuk District has the most redevelopment and reconstruction projects in the country, with 124 areas currently in progress. The projects in Jangwi Districts 8 and 9 have been accelerating, and in January, a relocation plan for the Dal Dongne Jeongneung Valley area was established.

A successful redevelopment project is the Gireum New Town. This new town project, launched in the then-decrepit Gireum and Jeongneung areas, announced its development plan in 2003 and completed and moved in by 2005.

It is a prime location near Gireum Station on the Seoul Subway Line 4. It is becoming a town centered around the highly educated middle class due to its educational environment within Seongbuk District.

Compared to other new towns like Eunpyeong New Town and Wangsimni New Town, it appears to be relatively cheaper.

Last month, the 84㎡ units of Eunpyeong New Town Sanglim 8th District Prugio were traded at $760,000, while the same type in Gireum New Town 2nd District Prugio were sold for $690,000 earlier this month.