Chains Along the Han River... Eyes on the Relaxation of the '35-Story' Floor Height Regulation

Announcement Delay of 2040 Seoul Plan

Including the Abolition of Floor Height Restrictions

Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Campaign Promise

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Dissatisfaction is growing among redevelopment complexes along the Han River due to the delay in the announcement of the ‘2040 Urban Basic Plan (Seoul Plan),’ which includes the abolition of the 35-floor height restriction on apartments in Seoul. The announcement, originally planned by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the end of last year, has been repeatedly postponed, causing redevelopment projects to stall. If the current 35-floor restriction is lifted, redevelopment projects that were delayed due to floor height limits are expected to accelerate. However, there are also recommendations that indiscriminate relaxation of floor height regulations could lead to reckless development, so floor heights should be eased considering the terrain conditions and harmony with the surrounding environment.

According to reports on the 11th, Seoul is currently undergoing internal decision-making processes regarding the contents to be included in the 2040 Seoul Plan. A Seoul city official stated, "We need to go through legal procedures to amend related contents, and it takes time to listen to and coordinate residents’ suggestions and recommendations," adding, "At this point, it is difficult to specify whether the announcement will be in the first or second half of the year." However, since Mayor Oh mentioned in his New Year's address that the 2040 Seoul Plan will be "announced this year," it is expected that the new urban plan of Seoul will take shape within this year. The 2030 Seoul Plan, announced during the tenure of former Mayor Park Won-soon, took five years from initial planning to announcement.

During former Mayor Park’s administration, Seoul established the ‘Seoul Skyline Management Principles,’ limiting building heights to 15 floors along the Han River waterfront and 35 floors in general residential areas (Type 3). These regulations were included in the city’s highest-level urban basic plan, the ‘2030 Seoul Plan,’ and redevelopment plans exceeding these height limits were rejected during review. Upon taking office, Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized ‘rapid housing supply’ and pledged to include the abolition of the 35-floor height restriction in the 2040 Seoul Plan. This is also one of Mayor Oh’s campaign promises.

If apartment floor height restrictions are eased, redevelopment projects in complexes such as Apgujeong Hyundai, Jamsil Jugong Complex 5, and Daechi-dong Eunma are expected to gain momentum. Areas along the Han River such as Yeouido, Seongsu, Hapjeong, and Ichon are also expected to see changes in the Seoul skyline if floor height restrictions are lifted. As Seoul actively moves to ease floor height regulations, complexes are expected to revise their designs in accordance with the 2040 Seoul Plan.

A representative from the Wanggung Apartment union in Yongsan-gu said, "Regarding the easing of floor height regulations, the announcement was initially scheduled for the end of last year but was postponed to this year, and since the specific announcement date has not been set, the application for project implementation approval is being delayed," adding, "Naturally, if the 35-floor rule is lifted, redevelopment will proceed accordingly."

The Daechi-dong Eunma Apartment, which has repeatedly clashed with the Seoul city government over whether the limit should be 35 or 49 floors, is also awaiting the easing of height restrictions. A representative from Eunma Apartment said, "We were disappointed by the rejection of the fast-track integrated planning, and the union is currently putting all its efforts into pushing redevelopment," expressing hope by saying, "Once the height issue, which we have fought with the city for 10 years, is resolved, redevelopment will surely accelerate."

However, there are concerns that indiscriminate relaxation of height restrictions could lead to reckless development, and advice has been given that supplementary measures are needed to address this. While easing height restrictions helps expand housing supply, some complexes have been criticized for monopolizing views and sunlight rights and disrupting harmony with the surrounding landscape.

Lee Eun-hyung, Senior Researcher at the Korea Construction Policy Institute, said, "Rather than indiscriminately easing floor heights, it is necessary to suppress them to a certain extent during the review stage by considering regional characteristics," adding, "To expand supply, not only floor height restrictions but also floor area ratio caps need to be lifted together."

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