Mandatory Installation of Windows in Gosiwon Starting July

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] From July, newly built or expanded gosiwon in Seoul must have windows installed in every room.

Seoul City announced on the 4th that it has amended the "Seoul Metropolitan Building Ordinance" by establishing minimum floor area standards and mandatory window installation regulations to ensure a humane life and safe living environment for residents of gosiwon (multi-occupancy facilities).

The ordinance will take effect six months after the announcement of the amendment to allow building owners and related parties preparation time. It applies not only to new construction but also to all building permit applications including expansions, repairs, and changes of use.

According to the ordinance, individual rooms must secure a net floor area of at least 7㎡ (9㎡ if including a bathroom), and windows must be mandatorily installed in every room. The windows must face outdoors and have an effective width of at least 0.5m and an effective height of at least 1m to allow escape in case of fire or similar emergencies.

This ordinance amendment was made following the revision and enforcement of the Building Act Enforcement Decree, which was proposed by Seoul City. After the fire at Gukil Gosiwon in Jongno-gu in 2018, which caused seven casualties, Seoul City proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to establish "minimum housing standards" for gosiwon. The Ministry accepted this and amended the Building Act Enforcement Decree on June 16 last year.

The revised enforcement decree delegates authority to local governments to set detailed building standards for multi-occupancy facilities (gosiwon) through ordinances.

Gosiwon, classified as multi-use facilities under the Building Act, have had no separate standards for minimum residential area, leaving many residents in poor living conditions. According to the Korea Urban Research Institute, the average residential area of gosiwon in Seoul is 7.2㎡, with more than half (53%) having less than 7㎡, and only 47.6% having windows that allow evacuation in case of fire.

Kim Seongbo, Director of Seoul City's Housing Policy Office, said, "There is a high risk of casualties if fires occur in gosiwon that are cramped and lack windows for escape. Seoul City has amended the ordinance by establishing minimum net floor area and mandatory window installation standards to guarantee a humane life for gosiwon residents. We expect this to improve the living environment for gosiwon residents by setting minimum space standards necessary for housing socially vulnerable groups and to create an environment that prevents casualties from fires and other incidents."

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