On October 20, 2025, a heated debate unfolded in Seoul’s City Hall as the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee convened for a comprehensive audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. At the heart of the discussion: the long-running saga of the Unma apartment complex, a symbol of both the city’s aging infrastructure and the persistent challenges facing urban redevelopment in South Korea’s capital. The day’s proceedings, covered by multiple major outlets including Ajou Economic Daily, G Economy, and News1, highlighted not only the bureaucratic obstacles hampering redevelopment but also a simmering scandal over illegal private security operations that has plagued Unma for two decades.
It was during this high-profile session that Representative Eom Tae-young, a member of the People Power Party, made an eyebrow-raising suggestion to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Eom, frustrated by the apparent lack of progress in Unma’s redevelopment, asked, “Would you consider blowing up Unma?” The remark, referencing the dramatic 1994 controlled demolition of the Namsan Foreigners’ Apartments, was meant to underscore the urgency of the situation. Eom continued, “I recommend the single-story collapse method used back then. As a Christmas event this year, would you give Seoul citizens the hope of seeing the city’s will for redevelopment and reconstruction?” The comment drew a mixture of laughter and surprise from those present, momentarily breaking the tension in a room otherwise charged with political rivalry and public scrutiny, according to Ajou Economic Daily.
But beneath the theatrics, the audit laid bare a host of unresolved issues. The Unma apartment complex, located in Seoul’s Gangnam district, has become a flashpoint for broader debates about housing supply, regulatory bottlenecks, and the social costs of urban renewal. For nearly 20 years, the complex has been mired in controversy, not only for its stalled reconstruction but also for the shadowy private security activities that have operated there without proper oversight or approval. According to G Economy, recent investigations by the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Intelligence Service revealed that illegal private security operations have been ongoing at Unma for about two decades. Shim Jang, a figure suspected of orchestrating these activities, reportedly ran private security work at the site without the necessary authorization.
This revelation is part of a wider problem in Seoul. Authorities have identified 389 registered private security companies in the city, with between 10% and 20% believed to be operating illegally. These unregulated services have caused a variety of problems, from tenant intimidation to conflicts with local residents. The National Assembly’s inspection committee, as reported by News1, emphasized the urgent need for stronger oversight, stricter regulation, and more thorough investigation of private security companies in the capital. The committee’s findings echoed calls from community leaders and residents who have long demanded greater transparency and accountability in the management of large housing complexes like Unma.
Amid these revelations, the political blame game intensified. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle sparred over who should shoulder responsibility for the city’s housing crisis and the sluggish pace of redevelopment projects. The ruling party criticized the slow progress of Seoul’s so-called “fast-track integrated planning” initiative, designed to streamline the approval process for redevelopment and reconstruction. According to Ajou Economic Daily, Song Ki-heon, a member of the Democratic Party, pointed out, “In the four years and three months since Mayor Oh took office, the number of housing permits dropped from 310,000 to 220,000, and construction starts have also fallen sharply. Of the districts designated under the fast-track plan, only 22 have received comprehensive approval, and just four have had their project implementation plans sanctioned.”
Progressive lawmakers also criticized the city’s approach to redevelopment, warning that hasty or poorly conceived projects could displace long-term residents and exacerbate social inequality. Representative Yoon Jong-oh of the Progressive Party noted, “Because the fast-track and ‘Moa Town’ projects were pushed through without sufficient review, several problems have arisen. In past redevelopment projects, only 10-20% of original residents managed to stay. Tenants and low-income households are being pushed out in the process.” These concerns reflect a long-standing tension in Seoul’s urban policy: the desire to modernize aging neighborhoods while protecting vulnerable populations from the disruptive effects of gentrification.
In response, Mayor Oh Se-hoon and his allies pushed back, attributing many of the current supply shortages to decisions made during the previous administration. Oh argued, “During the previous mayor’s term, 389 redevelopment sites were closed. Given that these projects typically take 10 to 15 years, the failure to designate new sites back then is the main cause of today’s supply shortage.” Baek Joon-young, another People Power Party lawmaker, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The former Democratic Party-led Seoul City canceled 400 redevelopment zones, creating a supply bottleneck over the past decade.” The debate underscored the complexity of urban renewal in Seoul, where political cycles and long project timelines often collide, leaving residents caught in the crossfire.
Amid the political wrangling, the Unma apartment association sought to clear its name. According to G Economy, the association, led by Chairman Choi Jung-hee, recently announced that it had been exonerated of all legal risks and longstanding suspicions. “The Seoul Central District Court ruled that the founding general meeting on August 19, 2023, was not the result of a fraudulent election,” the association stated. “The injunction suspending Chairman Choi’s duties has also been lifted. We have ultimately prevailed in the lawsuit confirming the validity of the general meeting’s resolutions, and all related cases have been dismissed at the investigative stage due to lack of evidence.” This legal vindication, coupled with Mayor Oh’s recent site visit to assess the aging complex and discuss the way forward, has raised hopes that Unma’s redevelopment might finally gain momentum after years of uncertainty.
Yet, the shadow of illegal private security activities continues to loom large. Despite the association’s legal victories, recent reports highlighted by G Economy and News1 stressed the need for ongoing vigilance. The National Assembly’s National Intelligence Service Inspection Committee, during its August 19, 2023, review, found no conclusive evidence linking the committee chairman to the illegal activities. Still, the persistence of these operations over two decades has prompted calls for a thorough investigation and a tightening of regulations governing private security companies across Seoul.
As Seoul grapples with the twin challenges of modernizing its housing stock and rooting out entrenched illegal practices, the Unma apartment complex stands as a microcosm of both the city’s ambitions and its enduring struggles. The events of October 20, 2025, brought these issues into sharp relief, reminding policymakers and citizens alike that meaningful change requires not just bold proposals or dramatic gestures, but sustained oversight, transparent governance, and a willingness to learn from the past. With renewed attention on both the legal and regulatory fronts, the hope remains that Unma’s long wait for renewal might finally be coming to an end.