Won Hee-ryong: "Bucheon Jung-dong, Old Downtown and Metropolitan Development... Considering Floor Area Ratio Increase"

Concerns Over 'Business Feasibility' Due to High Population Density and Floor Area Ratio
"Nearby Daejang District Development Favors Establishing Relocation Measures"

The first-generation new town, Jungdong New Town in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province, aligns its development with the old downtown area and coordinates its relocation measures with the third-generation new town, Daejang District. Regarding large-scale development, the government has decided to consider increasing the floor area ratio, which is already high.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong (left) is touring an aging apartment complex in Jungdong New Town, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 9th while listening to an explanation from Chief Planner Song Ha-yeop. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

On the afternoon of the 9th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, met with local residents at the Bucheon Art Center to listen to opinions on the maintenance of aging planned cities. This was his third visit to a first-generation new town, following Ilsan New Town in Goyang City on the 21st of last month and Sanbon New Town in Gunpo City on the 26th.

Minister Won said, "The development of Jungdong New Town must comprehensively address the aging original downtown, the green space ratio which was only 10% since the new town was established, and the high population density issue. The floor area ratio is higher than any other new town, so individual reconstruction projects may face difficulties. We will find wise solutions."

He added, "Most of the Bucheon City complexes are located in station areas. When the original downtown is developed on a metropolitan scale in the future, we will thoroughly consider urban maintenance support measures such as increasing the floor area ratio."

Looking at the housing status in Jungdong New Town, out of a total of 49 complexes and 39,363 households, 19 complexes with 14,030 households have aged as more than 30 years have passed since their approval for use. There are also 15 complexes, totaling 11,650 households, that were completed 29 years ago. These complexes have an average floor area ratio of 226%, which is about 50% higher than Bundang (184%) and Ilsan (169%), making it difficult to secure development profitability.

Lee Jeong-sik, Chairman of the Geumgang Village Reconstruction Promotion Preparation Committee, asked, "If the floor area ratio is given similarly to other new towns, Jungdong New Town will inevitably face difficulties in terms of project profitability. Is it possible to increase the floor area ratio further?"

In response, Minister Won said, "There may be complexes pursuing remodeling due to profitability issues, but if a new business model suitable for Bucheon City's conditions is proposed, we are willing to improve the system to ensure profitability. Whatever business method is chosen, we will ensure that no losses are incurred."

While there was anticipation for development, some residents also expressed anxiety about relocation. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) viewed Jungdong New Town as advantageous in establishing relocation measures compared to other areas.

Lee Han-jun, CEO of LH, said, "It is true that relocation measures were neglected when developing cities, and Bucheon City is small in area. Fortunately, the nearby Daejang New Town has started construction, and the Yeokgok District is also under development, providing conditions to effectively establish relocation measures within the jurisdiction."

Minister Won also said, "Jungdong New Town seems to have the best conditions for preparing relocation measures," and urged, "Rather, please discuss more about which business methods to apply to the deteriorated original downtown." He added, "The purpose of maintenance is not to increase Bucheon City's population, which is around 800,000, but to improve the quality and standard of living for residents. Let's solve the problems of the original downtown and the first-generation new town together."

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