Seohun Oh's First Push for 'Public Planning', Ogeum Hyundai... Can It Overcome Some Residents' Opposition?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Ogeum Hyundai Apartment in Songpa-gu, Seoul, is proceeding with reconstruction using the ‘public planning’ method proposed by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. This increases the likelihood that it will become the first target of the ‘speed housing supply’ plan, which significantly shortens the approval procedures and period. However, concerns have been raised that the process may not go smoothly, as opinions among residents have not been unified and there is opposition to the increased rental ratio.

According to Seoul City and Songpa District Office on the 24th, Ogeum Hyundai and Songpa-gu are currently undergoing the designation of a reconstruction maintenance zone and maintenance plan procedures reflecting Seoul City’s public planning. They plan to collect residents’ opinions on the maintenance plan by the 25th and, as early as next month, submit the agenda to the Seoul City Urban Planning Committee, according to Seoul City, Songpa-gu, and the Ogeum Hyundai Reconstruction Promotion Committee.

Ogeum Hyundai, completed in 1984, became eligible for reconstruction after receiving a D grade in a detailed safety inspection in 2016. However, in March last year, the designation of the maintenance zone and the maintenance plan were postponed at the Seoul City Urban Planning Committee review, delaying the reconstruction project. Subsequently, it was designated as an Urban Architecture Innovation Project, similar in nature to public planning, and the district office was preparing the maintenance plan aiming for zone designation by the end of the year. Then, at Seoul City’s proposal, the review of the maintenance plan began to accelerate.

Applying public planning to reconstruction is expected to significantly reduce the project duration. The city’s plan is to shorten the designation period of the maintenance zone from the usual five years to two years. Since Seoul City participates from the maintenance plan establishment stage, unnecessary conflicts can be avoided during the review process. According to the maintenance plan, Ogeum Hyundai could expand from 1,316 households to 2,625 households through this process.

However, it is uncertain whether the project will proceed smoothly as opinions on the public planning method are divided among residents. Supporters argue that the ongoing Urban Architecture Innovation Project is essentially similar to public planning and that Seoul City is actively interested, so they should seize the opportunity. On the other hand, some express displeasure that the project is being pushed forward without sufficient resident consultation.

In particular, there are significant complaints about the increased rental ratio and public land corresponding to the increased floor area ratio. According to the maintenance plan, 12% of the site, which is a Type 3 General Residential Area, will be rezoned to a semi-residential area, and a floor area ratio of 499% will be applied, increasing the rental ratio from the original 14.4% to 20.6%. They claim this is even higher than the 15% rental ratio of the nearby Bangi-dong Daelim Apartment.

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