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What About the Heliport? Modifications to Nodeul Island Winning Design Inevitable

[비즈한국] The 'Nodeul Global Art Island' project, driven by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has hit a snag due to safety regulations concerning the helipad. Because of safety issues regarding the helipad located on the eastern side of Nodeul Island, it is difficult to implement the winning design from the international design competition—Thomas Heatherwick's 'SOUNDSCAPE'—as originally planned. While the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that it is in discussions with the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation, it remains uncertain whether the regulations will be relaxed.

Seoul City Requests Relaxation of Separation Distance to Seoul Regional Office of Aviation

According to Bizhankook's report, the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation last year to relax the slope criteria for the transitional surface of the Nodeul Island helipad, as the helipad, under the jurisdiction of the aviation office, is located on the eastern side of the island.

The transitional surface is a virtual sloped line that limits the height of buildings around a helipad to prevent collisions during helicopter takeoff and landing. According to the current enforcement rules of the Airport Facilities Act, the slope of a helipad's transitional surface must, in principle, be '1:2'. This means for every 2 meters away from the helipad boundary, the height of a building can only increase by 1 meter.

However, the winning 'SOUNDSCAPE' design features an aerial walkway structure with a maximum height of approximately 25m. Under the current rule, a 25m-tall building would need to be at least 50m away from the helipad boundary, but the winning design set the distance between the walkway and the helipad at about 35m. Major facilities such as a swimming pool, sauna, and ice rink were placed around the helipad.

According to data submitted by the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation to the office of Representative Kim Young-bae (Democratic Party of Korea), the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested in December last year that the office relax the slope criteria to '1:1' (allowing a 1m increase in height for every 1m distance). If the regulation is relaxed, the separation distance could be reduced to 25m, making the original design implementation possible.

The Seoul Regional Office of Aviation remains cautious. In January of this year, the office sent an official letter to the Seoul Metropolitan Government stating, "While we judge that it may be possible to relax the criteria from more than 1:2 to a slope of 1:1 or less given the current location conditions, this is a matter that must be judged comprehensively, taking into account the overall facility layout plans and opinions from relevant agencies." They added, "Once the feasibility and location of the structures are confirmed after reviewing opinions from relevant agencies, a re-examination of the obstacle limitation surfaces will be necessary," effectively reserving their final decision.

The Seoul Regional Office of Aviation stated to Rep. Kim Young-bae's office, "We anticipate an increase in visitors once the Nodeul Global Art Island project is completed, and we believe that the installation of facilities and safety management plans for the safe operation of helicopters will be necessary."

It remains unknown whether the relaxed criteria will be applied to the Nodeul Island helipad. The Seoul Regional Office of Aviation told Bizhankook, "We have not discussed the helipad issue with the Seoul Metropolitan Government since the official letter sent in January this year."

Access Control During Helicopter Takeoff and Landing… Endangered Frog Habitats Also Affected Depending on Building Location

If buildings on the east side are pushed further west to comply with helipad regulations, the habitat of the endangered narrow-mouthed toad will also be affected. Initially, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it would create an ecological forest in the eastern forest area where the toads reside. Consequently, they adjusted the existing design to shift some structures away from the east.

Operational issues are also expected. While the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to charge a 5,000 KRW entry fee for the Nodeul Island aerial walkway, access may be restricted during helicopter takeoffs and landings for safety reasons.

Despite knowing that the eastern helipad and its vicinity could not be used, the Seoul Metropolitan Government allowed the entire forest to be included in the design competition. During the international design competition for the Nodeul Global Art Island, the city had stated, "We plan to return the entire land, waterfront, and even the air to the citizens, beyond just opening up a portion of the west side."

A Seoul Metropolitan Government official explained, "A design competition is exactly that—a design competition. It is premised on the fact that it differs from the final design. Therefore, the winning design and the actual implemented plan are different."

Currently, although the Nodeul Island helipad is under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation, it requires permission from the Ministry of National Defense to be used. An official from the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation explained, "Nodeul Island is a no-fly zone, and the authority to grant flight permission lies with the Ministry of National Defense. The criteria for permission are also set by the Ministry."

While civilian use of the helipad is not impossible, it is also used by the military. Notably, it was pointed out in a parliamentary audit that following the relocation of the Presidential Office to Yongsan in 2022, the Ministry of National Defense and high-ranking military officials began using the Nodeul Island helipad. When then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was attacked and transported to Seoul National University Hospital in January of last year, the helipad was also used. If the military uses the helipad, access to Nodeul Island may be restricted. Currently, this area is completely off-limits to the public due to the construction of waterfront cultural spaces.

It is understood that the Seoul Metropolitan Government has not yet discussed 'relocation' regarding the helipad. An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "We are currently discussing issues such as helipad regulations with relevant agencies, including the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation. Whether the helipad remains is the authority of the aviation office, and we have never discussed relocation."

Kim Dong-eon, director of the Seoul Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, pointed out, "The reason why the east side of Nodeul Island could not be revitalized until now should be seen more as a matter of securing safe distances during helicopter operations and national security, rather than for ecological protection. Selecting a design that promotes the use of the east side as the winner seems like an unreasonable move by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. If they proceed with basic and detailed designs without concluding discussions with the Ministry of National Defense and the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation, there is a risk that design costs could be wasted."