Gwangju City Revises Urban Planning Ordinance... Strengthening Review to Prevent Abuse

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has amended its urban planning ordinance.

According to Gwangju City on the 8th, the urban planning ordinance includes restrictions on apartment complex development projects at elevations above 100m, and clarifies residential uses in commercial areas as apartment complexes, quasi-apartments, and residential lodging facilities.

First, the restriction on apartment complex development projects in areas above 100m elevation applies to mountainous areas such as near Mudeungsan National Park and mountains with good natural and ecological conditions within the city center, including Geumdangsan, Jeseoksan, and Samgaksan.

Recently, applications for apartment complex permits have been submitted even near the foothills of Mudeungsan, so the amendment was made to restrict large-scale apartment construction in areas near Mudeungsan National Park and other areas with good natural and ecological conditions within the city.

Next, the ordinance clarifies residential uses in commercial areas as apartment complexes, quasi-apartments, and residential lodging facilities. Office-tels and residential lodging facilities, classified as office and lodging facilities under the Building Act, have been effectively converted into high-rise, high-density residential facilities in commercial areas, increasing various urban problems such as lack of sunlight, landscape disruption, traffic congestion, and insufficient infrastructure. This amendment aims to correct these issues.

However, the grace period was revised by the standing committee to take effect one month after the ordinance's promulgation, which has raised concerns about indiscriminate development among civic groups.

In response, Gwangju City stated that it will thoroughly strengthen the review by the Building Committee for submitted building permits to prevent misuse leading to urban indiscriminate development and urban problems.

Lee Sang-bae, Director of the City Regeneration Bureau, said, “To establish the urban and architectural identity of sustainable urban spaces that adapt to the flow and changes of the times, we declared the ‘Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration’ last October,” adding, “We will strive to create a green city Gwangju, not a gray apartment city as before, by improving systems to prevent indiscriminate development and resolve urban problems.”

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