Seoul City Responds to 'Up to 70-Story Apgujeong' Privilege Controversy: "Same Principles Applied" (Comprehensive)

Seoul City "Height Regulation Relaxation, Common Standards for Seoul"
"Open Mind to Review Floors According to Design"
"Public Contribution Rate Reduction Uniform Along Han River"

Apgujeong Hyundai Apartment_Real Estate Reference Photo / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Seoul City has stepped in to quell controversy over preferential treatment related to the rapid integrated planning of the Apgujeong reconstruction. Previously, reports emerged that Apgujeong apartments could be reconstructed up to 70 floors high, while the public contribution ratio would be lowered to 10%, raising fairness issues mainly among reconstruction complexes not located along the Han River.

Seoul City: "No Preferential Treatment in Apgujeong"... Floor Counts Open Depending on Location and Design

On the 8th, Cho Nam-jun, Director of Seoul City's Urban Planning Bureau, refuted the claims in a briefing, stating, "It is not true that preferential treatment was given only to specific apartments."

He explained that the allowance for ultra-high-rise reconstruction of apartments along the Han River is a common standard applicable throughout Seoul, not just Apgujeong. Director Cho said, "The 2040 Basic Urban Plan removed the 35-floor height limit and decided to manage the skyline qualitatively," adding, "If there is innovative design, any complex will be considered openly regarding height." Regarding the allowance of 70-floor reconstruction along the Han River in Apgujeong, he said, "Because of floor area ratio restrictions, a higher floor count does not necessarily mean more households," and added, "Seoul City proposed 50 floors at residents' briefings, but 70 floors can be considered depending on the creative design suggested by residents."

Cannot Simply Compare by Public Contribution Rate... Additional Rental Housing Must Be Secured to Receive the Same Floor Area Ratio

The recent draft of the rapid integrated planning for Apgujeong Reconstruction Districts 2 and 3 includes not only floor counts but also sets the donation ratio?providing part of the reconstruction area free of charge to the state or local governments for parks or public facilities?at 10%. Regarding this, it was explained that this principle is equally applied when establishing apartment maintenance plans located along the Han River. Director Cho said, "In August 2021, the excessive public contribution ratio was hindering reconstruction efforts, so Seoul City lowered the mandatory public contribution ratio for Han River apartments from below 15% to around 10%."

When fairness issues were raised concerning already built ultra-high-rise apartments along the Han River, he emphasized, "To reach the same floor area ratio, additional public contributions must be borne," and added, "It is difficult to simply compare fairness based on the height or low level of mandatory public contribution rates." For example, in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, the ‘Trimage (47 floors)’ donated 32% of its area but has no rental housing. In contrast, for Apgujeong apartments, according to the draft, while contributing 10% publicly, an additional 10% rental housing must be secured to obtain the floor area ratio. Director Cho said, "There is a major principle of 10% public contribution, but there is flexibility in operation, such as residents deciding the rental housing ratio, allowing for a range of choices."

Regarding the pedestrian bridge connecting Apgujeong-dong to Seongsu-dong, he said, "After the Great Han River Project announcement in March, a resident proposal came as part of public contribution, and upon review, it was judged to have significant public benefit." He added, "The types of public contributions are determined through demand surveys and committee deliberations, and not all resident proposals are 100% reflected."

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