South Korea to Open “Little LA” Area on Returned Portion of Yongsan Garrison
As predicted it seems like less and less of Yongsan Garrison will become a park:
The incoming Yoon Suk-yeol government is planning to convert part of a U.S. Forces Korea base adjacent to the new presidential office in Yongsan into a cultural space reminiscent of a “Little LA” and open it to the public in September, officials said Sunday.
Korea Times
The 500,000-square-meter space is just outside the defense ministry headquarters, which is being converted into the new presidential office.
The USFK plans to return the land to the South Korean government at the end of this month as part of its ongoing relocation to Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
“We plan to let the people see it in its exotic state as much as possible,” an official involved in the project told Yonhap News Agency, noting the area features various religious, educational and sports facilities used by the USFK.
More facilities could be added, such as cafes and exhibition or concert halls, to evoke a sense of “America Town” or “Little LA.”
You can read more at the link, but I guess using this portion of Yongsan to create this “Little LA” area is better than just putting up more apartment buildings. Any predictions on how much of the old Yongsan Garrison actually becomes a city park?
Will it be complete with drug addled homeless and carjacking?
You’d think one Itaewon would be enough. I find it sad that so many expats come to Korea and stay several years without bothering to learn the language or explore the culture. Such people just hang out in Itaewon, and Itaewon is all they know. Same problem in parts of L.A.’s Koreatown, but in reverse. And now, there are plans for another safe space for foreigners? Wow. And it’ll be meta, too: L.A.’s Koreatown is a reflection of Korea, and Korea’s “Little L.A.” will probably be a reflection of Koreatown. Weird.
Hardly Camp Hialeah.
The won per pyeong ratio will always push apartments over parks in Seoul?