Seoul's Hanok-Dense Areas, Managing Architectural Assets Based on Legal Grounds

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is transitioning the hanok-dense areas, which were operated under ordinances, to a 'Building Asset Promotion Management System' based on the 'Act on the Promotion of Architectural Assets'.

On the 11th, Seoul held the 16th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting and announced on the 12th that it had amended and approved the designation of hanok-dense areas as architectural asset promotion zones and the management plan decision.

The designated areas include six locations in Jongno-gu (Donhwamun-ro, Insadong, around Unhyeongung, around Jogyesa, Ikseon, west side of Gyeongbokgung) and two locations in Seongbuk-gu (Seonjam Complex, Aengdu Village), totaling eight zones. Bukchon will be decided and announced together with the reorganization of the district unit plan.

Support will be expanded not only to hanok within the architectural asset promotion zones but also to non-hanok modern and contemporary buildings and other architectural assets, aiming to maintain architectural characteristics. In addition to architectural special exception support, projects such as 119 emergency dispatch consultation support will be promoted.

The management plan includes the listing of architectural assets through surveys by zone, architectural asset management guidelines and special plans, and support project plans. Linked with individual district unit plans, special exceptions for architectural assets such as relaxed building coverage ratios and eased standards for installing auxiliary parking lots will become possible. After this decision, separate procedures will be carried out to change the individual district unit plans for the eight zones to apply architectural special exceptions.

A city official said, "Through the designation of architectural asset promotion zones and the management plan decision for hanok-dense areas that fully embody Seoul's identity, we expect this to be an opportunity to re-recognize the value that the old architectural assets around us are no longer obstacles to development but important keys to urban regeneration and regional branding."

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