Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation) announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on November 6 in Los Angeles to cooperate on district‑level green certification for the Yongsan International Business District.
USGBC operates the global LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, used across 186 countries. LEED certifies not only buildings but also neighborhoods and districts, evaluating sustainability across design, construction and operation phases.
The signing ceremony was attended by Korail’s Head of New Growth Business, Won Hyung‑min, USGBC President Peter Templeton, and about 10 officials from both organizations.
Under the agreement, Korail and USGBC will establish a cooperation framework to pursue Korea’s first district‑level LEED certification covering the entire Yongsan International Business District. The certification will assess a range of environmental factors across the development plan, including green space creation, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, water management, and public transit accessibility.
Both parties agreed to collaborate on administrative support for the certification process, strategies to achieve the highest possible rating, promotion of LEED certification, and the identification of related linked projects. Once certified, the Yongsan district’s environmental competitiveness is expected to improve and help attract global companies.
The agreement was signed at the Greenbuild Expo, a major international sustainable building conference, bringing global attention to Yongsan’s sustainable development vision.
Won Hyung‑min said, “We will do our utmost to ensure the Yongsan International Business District becomes the first district‑level LEED‑certified development in Korea and rises as a sustainable global business hub.”
The Yongsan International Business District urban development project is a large‑scale initiative to transform the former Yongsan rail depot into a mixed business hub integrating international business, residential, commercial and cultural functions. Korail plans to complete permitting by the end of this month and hold a groundbreaking ceremony on the 27th, one year after the district’s designation.
