Seoul City Launches Full-Scale Improvement Project for 'Old Houses + Alleyways' Package

12 Seoul-type New Deal Alley Housing Exterior Improvement Projects Targeting 12 Urban Regeneration New Deal Areas
Integrated Improvement of Aging Alleys and Adjacent Housing Exteriors... Expected Village-level Environmental Improvement Effects
Support of 12.41 Million KRW Including Maximum 10% Self-Payment... Autonomous Districts Select Target Sites

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] On the 15th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will actively promote the 'Seoul-type New Deal Alley Housing Exterior Improvement Project' targeting 12 areas including Muk 2-dong in Jungnang-gu, where the Urban Regeneration New Deal project is being implemented.

The Seoul-type New Deal Alley Housing Exterior Improvement Project (Seoul-type Improvement Project) is a Seoul-specific project under the government's New Deal initiative called the 'Urban Regeneration New Deal Home Repair Project.' It is an environmental improvement project that integrates and renovates aging low-rise residential areas and alleys within regeneration zones. The local autonomous districts select the target sites and lead the process from design to construction. Up to 12.41 million KRW is supported, including a 10% self-payment per household (90% supported by national funds).

The Seoul-type Improvement Project allows the exterior of aging houses to be improved with only a 10% self-payment. However, due to the lack of specific guidelines, the 12 sites currently underway have not been able to accelerate the project despite starting. There are a total of 13 Urban Regeneration New Deal project sites in Seoul (Our Neighborhood Revitalization type, General Neighborhood type, Residential Support type), of which 12 are implementing the 'Urban Regeneration New Deal Home Repair Project.'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "Since January this year, we have held working-level meetings and consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to provide reference for residents and autonomous districts, and as a result, we have established a project plan that specifically reflects Seoul's characteristics." First, the support targets and conditions, which previously had no separate standards, were clarified to specify "aging houses adjacent to alleys planned for maintenance or already maintained under the Urban Regeneration Activation Plan within Urban Regeneration New Deal project areas." The scope of support was also specified as "exterior home repairs and remodeling" to maintain consistency with the Ministry of Land's project objectives. Specifically, support is available for construction such as roofs and rooftops (waterproofing, rooftop greening, etc.), exterior walls (insulation, replacement with high-efficiency windows, etc.), and outdoor spaces (parking lots, stairs, flower beds, rest areas, etc.).

The role of autonomous districts leading the entire process from design to construction in the Seoul-type Improvement Project was also specified. Autonomous districts must select target sites based on transparent selection criteria with sufficient participation from local residents and prioritize discovering areas densely populated by vulnerable groups or elderly living alone. After deciding the target site, the autonomous district must directly select designers and contractors to proceed with the project and prepare management plans with residents even after completion.

To simultaneously respond to the economic crisis and climate crisis, the 'Seoul-style Green New Deal' strategy and the eco-friendly policies that Seoul has been promoting were concretely incorporated into the Seoul-type Improvement Project. For example, exterior walls and windows are installed with products that have excellent insulation performance to reduce heating costs, alley floors are paved with permeable blocks, and LED streetlights and AI-based security CCTV can also be installed. Various eco-friendly projects promoted by Seoul, such as installing rainwater storage tanks or replacing existing boilers with energy-efficient eco-friendly (low-NOx) boilers, are actively introduced into alley housing improvements.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government expects that by improving alleys and surrounding aging houses as a package rather than separately, vitality will be injected into the entire alley. It also expects that the effects of urban regeneration will be tangibly felt by residents. The city said, "Through these guidelines, seven of the 12 sites currently under project implementation will be able to select project sites within the year and begin full-scale projects such as ordering design services."

Ryu Hun, Director of Urban Regeneration, said, "The Seoul-type Improvement Project is the result of continuous consultation and efforts with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport," adding, "Residents can repair their homes with a small burden, and aging houses and inconvenient alleys can be renovated together, which will enhance the tangible impact of the regeneration project."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.