Seoul names Hanyang University professor Lee Chang-moo as 5th chief urban architect

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has appointed Lee Chang-moo, a professor of urban engineering at Hanyang University, as its 5th chief urban architect.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon presented Lee with his appointment certificate Sunday.

Lee is an urban spatial expert with specializations in urban planning and housing policy. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Urban Engineering at Hanyang University and has previously served on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's policy advisory committee, the Central Urban Planning Committee, the Seoul Urban Planning Committee and the expedited integrated planning subcommittee. He has built extensive policy advisory experience in urban planning, housing policy and spatial environment.

The city said it expects Lee to lead the consistent implementation of Seoul's spatial environment projects and play a central role in developing a comprehensive spatial strategy that integrates urban, architectural and housing policy.

Lee's term runs two years from Sunday through July 5, 2028. As a non-standing position reporting directly to the mayor, he will oversee planning and provide advisory services across the city's urban architectural policy and spatial environment projects.

His key responsibilities include overall advisory on Seoul's spatial policy and major projects, policy planning in urban, architectural and housing affairs, advisory and opinion coordination across major committees, and oversight of domestic and international urban policy exchange and cooperation.

Kang Byung-keun, an emeritus professor of architectural engineering at Konkuk University who served as the 4th chief urban architect, is stepping down after completing a four-year term that began in July 2021. Kang helped shape the broad direction of Mayor Oh's flagship initiatives, including the "Great Han River" project, the construction of a giant Ferris wheel and the redevelopment of Nodeul Island. He is expected to continue advising on the city's spatial environment projects in a capacity called "chief architect partners" after his departure.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is also pursuing a plan to rename the current "Seoul chief urban architect" title to "Seoul chief urban planner."

The chief urban architect has traditionally advised on urban architectural policy projects aligned with the city's governing priorities and facilitated exchanges with advanced cities and architectural policies abroad. However, the city said a more comprehensive urban spatial planning and coordination function has become necessary as key municipal issues have expanded to include housing supply, redevelopment projects and urban spatial restructuring.

The city plans to pursue the name change in the second half of this year and strengthen the chief planner function to encompass urban, architectural and housing affairs.

"Through the appointment of the 5th Seoul chief urban architect and the planned renaming to chief urban planner, we will respond more swiftly and comprehensively to the rapidly changing urban policy environment and strengthen Seoul's urban spatial competitiveness," a city official said.