Seoul Apartment Floor Limit '35-Floor Rule' to Disappear After 8 Years... Announcement of '2040 Seoul Urban Master Plan'

Urban Planning Zoning System Overhauled to 'Beyond Zoning'... 35-Story Height Restriction Removed
Residential Areas Redesigned into Walkable Daily Life Zones Within 30 Minutes on Foot
Waterfront-Centered Urban Space Reorganized; Seoul Downtown, Yeouido, Gangnam Functions Enhanced to Boost Urban Competitiveness
Gradual Undergrounding of Elevated Railways Also Progressed Step by Step

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young, Kim Hye-min] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is abolishing the so-called '35-floor rule,' an apartment floor restriction, after 8 years and transforming spaces within a '30-minute walk' across Seoul into mixed-use areas. The functions of three major urban centers?Seoul downtown, Yeouido, and Gangnam?where growth has slowed, will be upgraded to enhance urban competitiveness, while the undergrounding of above-ground railways will be gradually promoted to address land shortage issues.

On the 3rd, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the '2040 Seoul Urban Master Plan,' which outlines these initiatives, and stated that opinions from citizens, related government departments, and the city council will be gathered to finalize the plan by the end of the year.

Seoul will remove the uniform 35-floor height restriction and allow for differentiated floor limits based on site conditions. The 2014 '2030 Seoul Plan' under former Mayor Park Won-soon limited residential buildings to 35 floors or less and mixed-use residential-commercial buildings to 50 floors or less, regardless of zoning. Seoul plans to eliminate absolute numerical standards and instead introduce qualitative and flexible 'skyline guidelines.'

The 'zoning system,' which regulates land use, building height, and floor area ratio, will also be completely overhauled. Land uses such as residential, commercial, and green spaces will be autonomously allocated according to their functions. The new Seoul-style zoning system called 'Beyond Zoning,' incorporating these changes, is planned to be legislated and gradually applied starting in 2025.

Mayor Oh also announced a complete reorganization of everyday spaces, which were mainly residential, transforming all of Seoul into mixed-use areas where residents can enjoy housing, jobs, and leisure within a 30-minute walking radius. The plan aims to create self-sufficient living zones within walking distance so that residents anywhere in Seoul can enjoy a high-quality living environment.

Sixty-one rivers distributed throughout Seoul, along with four major tributaries?Anyangcheon, Jungnangcheon, Hongjecheon, and Tancheon?will be reorganized as waterfront-centered spaces. The functions of the three urban centers?Seoul downtown, Yeouido, and Gangnam?will be strengthened to boost urban competitiveness. In particular, Seoul downtown will shift from preservation-focused policies to establish a '4+1' framework consisting of four north-south axes and an east-west 'Global Commercial Axis,' aiming to rebirth as a future urban center where advanced technology and tradition coexist.

To resolve the shortage of available land, the undergrounding of above-ground railways will be gradually implemented. Seoul plans to actively utilize the high land value of above-ground railway sites to secure new vibrant spaces with diverse urban functions. Additionally, the city will expand future transportation infrastructure such as autonomous driving and establish 'mobility hubs' throughout Seoul that connect various transportation modes.

Mayor Oh said, "In the era of digital transformation, space defines citizens' lives and determines the future of the city. We will faithfully implement this plan, which will serve as a milestone for the next 20 years, to improve the quality of life for Seoul citizens and enhance urban competitiveness."

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