Sampyo remicon site in Seongsu-dong to be reborn as supertall mixed-use landmark

A supertall mixed-use development combining residential, office, hospitality and cultural functions is set to move forward in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The project is expected to expand the district's urban offerings through large-scale office space and upscale hotel facilities.

According to industry sources, the Seoul Metropolitan Government approved the architectural review for the "Seongsu-dong 1-ga, lot 683 mixed-use development project" in July. The development, known as Sampyo Global Landmark (SGL), will rise on the former Sampyo remicon site and feature an 81-story residential tower and a 53-story mixed-use office tower housing 403 apartment units, 61 officetel units and 130 hotel rooms, alongside office, commercial and cultural facilities. The project is designed to fill a gap in Seongsu-dong's urban fabric by combining large office space and upscale accommodation under one development. The lower floors will include publicly accessible shared spaces, and a pedestrian and green corridor linking Seoul Forest, the Han River and Eungbongsan will be created. Groundbreaking is targeted for 2027, with completion set for 2032.

"Global landmarks are evolving toward combining the symbolic stature of supertall towers with diverse functions — residential, office, hospitality and cultural," an industry official said. "If large-scale office, upscale accommodation and residential uses are added to Seongsu-dong, which already draws businesses and tourists, SGL could establish itself as the defining live-work-play hub of the area."

Mixed-use development has become the dominant model for the world's tallest skyscrapers. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), 50 of the world's 100 tallest buildings as of end-2023 were mixed-use, while single-use office buildings numbered 37, residential 10 and hotel just three. Mixed-use has held the largest share of that group continuously since 2017. In its 2025 report, CTBUH noted that rising office vacancy rates are also driving conversions of existing buildings under 200 meters into residential, hotel and mixed-use properties.

Azabudai Hills in Tokyo, which opened in November 2023, offers a prominent example. The complex spans 861,700 square meters of total floor area and houses offices, residences, hotels and retail. Aman Residences Tokyo occupies the upper floors of the 330-meter Mori JP Tower, while Janu Tokyo — a new brand from Aman — made its world debut in the lower floors of an adjacent building. With an international school and a preventive medical center also on site, the development supports a self-contained community of about 20,000 workers and 3,500 residents, with an annual visitor target of 30 million. Nearby Toranomon Hills and Roppongi Hills are home to Google, Tencent and Walt Disney.

Seoul is also building a regulatory framework to support high-density, mixed-use development. In March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a plan to transform all 325 transit-oriented areas across the city into spaces combining employment, residential and cultural and leisure functions. To encourage high-density mixed-use development, floor area ratios of up to 1,300 percent will be permitted in general commercial zones.