Seocho·Isu Apartment District Deregulated... Transition to District Unit Planning

Seoul City Holds Urban Construction Committee Meeting and Approves Relevant Agenda

Location map of Seocho Apartment District. (Provided by Seoul City)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has abolished the Seocho and Isu Apartment Districts and converted them into district unit plans.

On the 23rd, Seoul held the 16th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee meeting and announced on the 24th that the agenda, which centers on this matter, was approved with amendments.

The apartment districts were established in 1976 to build large-scale apartments, but since then, the system has changed and has been criticized for not reflecting diverse residential needs. Accordingly, Seoul decided to convert the apartment district development basic plans, which have become practically obsolete under past urban management methods, into district unit plans, a modern urban management tool.

With the conversion of the Seocho and Isu Apartment Districts into district unit plans, the reconstruction of apartment complexes within the districts is expected to become smoother. Reconstruction projects are promoted according to maintenance plans, and the urban management plan section of the maintenance plan is identical in content and form to the district unit plan.

In Seocho, the current district unit plan includes reconstruction guidelines considering connectivity with surrounding urban areas for two complexes (Sampung and Woosung 5th Complex) whose reconstruction period will arrive by 2030. The plan also improves the street environment and includes parks and public pedestrian pathways. Additionally, it relaxes usage and height standards (from under 5 floors to under 40 meters) for remaining development sites and central facility sites within the existing apartment district.

In Isu, reconstruction target complexes are designated as special planning zones to encourage creative architectural plans during detailed development planning and to expand public facilities such as parks. Furthermore, part of Bangbae-ro 45-gil is conditionally closed, and the road network within the district, which had significant constraints on project promotion, is partially adjusted and converted into public pedestrian pathways to promote increased housing supply.

The local landmark Bangbae-dong caf? street and cherry blossom road are also preserved and revitalized by arranging street-type commercial buildings, and the cherry blossom road will be preserved even after reconstruction.

A Seoul city official stated, "Through this conversion to district unit plans, we expect to establish a sustainable and harmoniously integrated urban management system with surrounding urban areas and contribute to rapid housing supply by proactively presenting reconstruction guidelines."

Location map of Isu Apartment District. (Provided by Seoul City)

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