Redevelopment and Reconstruction 'Sorrow'... Consecutive Postponements of Association General Meetings Due to Strengthened Social Distancing

Hannam 2 District, General Meeting Postponed for Project Implementation Plan Change
Schedule Changes and Cost Increase Inevitable if Project Delayed
Bill Recognizing Effectiveness of Non-Face-to-Face Meetings Pending in National Assembly

Apartments in the Gangnam-gu area of Seoul as seen from Namsan, Seoul Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] As social distancing measures have been strengthened due to the spread of COVID-19, redevelopment and reconstruction projects in the Seoul metropolitan area have also faced emergencies. General meetings of association members have been repeatedly canceled or postponed, making schedule disruptions inevitable. Although a related bill recognizing the validity of non-face-to-face (untact) meetings during national disaster situations has been proposed, it is still pending in the National Assembly.

According to the urban maintenance industry on the 15th, the redevelopment association of Hannam 2 Redevelopment Promotion Zone in Yongsan-gu, Seoul postponed the general meeting for the change of project implementation approval, originally scheduled for the 16th, to the 30th. An association official said, "Due to the application of social distancing level 4, we decided to change the schedule of the regular general meeting," adding, "If the spread of COVID-19 continues, the schedule may change again."

Originally, the association planned to obtain project implementation plan approval by September after this meeting and select a construction company in January next year. If the delay in the general meeting due to the spread of COVID-19 prolongs, revising the plan has become inevitable.

The Garak Siyoung (currently Helio City) reconstruction association in Songpa-gu, Seoul is also considering postponing the extraordinary general meeting scheduled for the 20th to elect the association president.

Dongjak-gu notified the Heukseok 9 Redevelopment Promotion Zone redevelopment association to cancel and postpone the association general meeting. A Dongjak-gu office official explained, "According to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, if confirmed cases occur due to violation of administrative orders, the association may be charged for treatment costs and other expenses."

Some raise issues of fairness among major projects. Due to amendments to the Housing Act, regional/workplace housing associations or remodeling associations can hold non-face-to-face meetings. However, redevelopment and reconstruction meetings still require direct attendance of association members. According to the Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Act, resolutions of meetings require at least 10% of all association members to attend in person. Especially for special resolutions such as inaugural meetings, project implementation plans, and management disposition plans, direct attendance of more than 20% of all association members is required.

A bill to amend the Urban Maintenance Act to provide grounds for non-face-to-face meetings for reconstruction and redevelopment associations has been proposed in the National Assembly but is still pending. Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party who proposed the bill, said, "If non-face-to-face meetings are introduced, redevelopment and reconstruction projects can proceed more quickly and smoothly," adding, "It will also help expand housing supply and stabilize the real estate market."

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