Relaxation of Height Restrictions Around Baebongsan... Hwikyung 5 District Reborn with 600 Households

Changes in altitude restrictions around Baebongsan.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Height restrictions around Baebongsan in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, where buildings taller than four floors were previously prohibited, have been eased. As a result, the redevelopment project in Huigyeong 5 District is benefiting and will be reborn with 600 households.

On the 15th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held the 17th Urban Planning Committee Delegated Subcommittee and announced on the 16th that it had approved amendments to the "Baebongsan Surrounding Height District Change Plan" and the "Designation of Huigyeong 5 Housing Maintenance-type Redevelopment Project Maintenance District and Maintenance Plan Decision & Landscape Review Plan."

The Baebongsan area had uniformly applied a height restriction of 12 meters or less for landscape management. Due to this regulation, it was difficult to construct buildings exceeding four floors. However, considering effective landscape management and ongoing redevelopment projects in the surrounding area, the city adjusted the height restrictions. Accordingly, the uniform 12-meter height limit applied to the entire target area was lowered around the peaks. Instead, the eastern side along Hancheon-ro was raised above 12 meters, allowing redevelopment projects to proceed with a maximum height of 7 floors and 24 meters.

Location map of Hwikyung 5 District, Dongdaemun-gu. (Photo by Seoul City)

The Huigyeong 5 District, where redevelopment is underway, is a beneficiary of this regulatory relaxation. Although it is close to Hoegi Station on Subway Line 1 and densely populated with Seoul City University as well as elementary, middle, and high schools, it has long been recognized as a neglected area due to its aging residential environment. After being removed from the housing reconstruction maintenance planned district in 2016, redevelopment efforts resumed in 2018, and this decision will accelerate the project.

Through redevelopment, Huigyeong 5 District will be transformed into a total of 634 households (including 45 public housing units). The city plans to build a public parking lot underground for citizens using Baebongsan Neighborhood Park, and on the ground, cultural and educational research facilities needed by the community will be established to serve as cultural spaces for local residents and research spaces for Seoul City University. Additionally, a public pedestrian path will be planned in connection with the Baebongsan trail, and a front setback will be secured along Hancheon-ro to enhance pedestrian convenience, thereby strengthening public accessibility.

A Seoul city official stated, "This height district change is the first case where the city has rationally modified the previously rigidly operated height district within a range that allows landscape management and improvement of aging residential environments." They added, "Other height districts, such as those around Bukhansan currently being reorganized by the city, will also consider various height management plans comprehensively reflecting local conditions such as landscape protection and residential environment improvement, similar to this case."

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