http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nati...8313810510.htm
Yongsan to Have Skyscraper
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A 600 meter-high landmark building will be built near Yongsan Station in Seoul.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will review the proposal submitted by the Korea Railroad (Korail) next month. Guidelines will be issued following the deliberation, although no construction date has been set.
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.