Height Restriction Lifted in Huigyeong 5 District, Redevelopment 'Green Light'

Efforts to Ease Height Restrictions Around Baebongsan Mountain

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Height restrictions around Baebongsan in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, which have been in place for 15 years, are set to be eased. As a result, the redevelopment of Hwikyung 5 District, which includes Dongsung Villa, is expected to secure feasibility and accelerate.

According to the maintenance industry on the 14th, Dongdaemun-gu is currently conducting a public inspection for residents on the urban management plan amendment decision to partially ease the maximum height district regulations around Baebongsan.

The area located on the slopes of Baebongsan has been subject to height restriction regulations since it was designated as a scenic district in 1941 during the Japanese colonial period. Later, it was designated as a natural landscape district in 1977, and in 2006, it was changed to a maximum height district, adding height restrictions allowing buildings only up to 12 meters and 3 floors. Although the floor limit has now been removed, the 12-meter height restriction still makes it difficult to construct buildings exceeding 4 floors.

The old residential area in Hwikyung 5 District, located on the slopes of Baebongsan, also saw no progress in development due to the height restrictions affecting feasibility.

The trigger for easing the height restrictions was the relocation of the military base around Baebongsan in 2015. The district office considered that nearby apartments within the natural landscape district were built at heights of at least 15 floors, leading to the move to ease height restrictions. A Dongdaemun-gu official stated, "We judged the regulations to be excessive and proceeded with changing the height district within a range that preserves the natural landscape without ignoring it."

The area’s height restriction will change from the existing 12 meters or less to mostly below the view line height. Dongdaemun-gu plans to gather residents' opinions until the 17th and then proceed with reviews by the district urban planning committee.

Accordingly, with the easing of restrictions, Hwikyung 5 District will be able to speed up redevelopment. Considering feasibility factors such as rental ratios, a maintenance plan has been established to build a 7-story, 672-unit apartment complex, and resident briefings and public inspections for designating the maintenance district are currently underway.

An official from a nearby real estate agency said, "In the preliminary feasibility study, 81% of landowners agreed, showing strong residents' aspirations," adding, "Since the consent rate required for establishing the association, 75%, has already been met, redevelopment is expected to proceed quickly in the future."

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