Hyundai Engineering Completes Korea's Tallest Modular Housing at 13 Floors

Ongoing Modular Construction R&D Since 2012
1 New Construction Technology, 11 Patents Acquired
Modular Market Expected to Reach 200 Trillion Won by 2030

The 13-story modular housing unit, 'Yongin Yeongdeok Gyeonggi Happy Housing,' which was prefabricated in a factory including major structures and architectural finishes, then transported and assembled on-site, has been completed. It is the tallest modular housing in Korea. Until now, due to regulations under the Building Act requiring buildings over 13 stories to have a fire resistance rating of at least 3 hours (the time it can withstand fire), the height of modular housing in Korea had been limited to 12 stories.

A view of Yongdeok Gyeonggi Happy Housing in Yongin, the tallest modular housing in Korea (13 floors) constructed by Hyundai Engineering.
[Photo by Hyundai Engineering]

Overcoming the 12-Story Limit, Showcasing Top-Level Modular Construction Capabilities

Hyundai Engineering announced on the 27th that it held a completion ceremony for the 13-story tallest modular housing in Korea, 'Yongin Yeongdeok Gyeonggi Happy Housing.'

The completion ceremony, held in the Yeongdeok-dong area of Giheung-gu, Yongin City, was attended by Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Kim Hyo-jung, Director of Housing Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin; Park Seung-gi, President of the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement; Kim Byung-seok, President of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology; Kim Min-geun, Vice President (Head of Strategic Business Division) of Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation; and Hong Hyun-sung, CEO of Hyundai Engineering.

The Yongin Yeongdeok Gyeonggi Happy Housing project, constructed by Hyundai Engineering as a private sector participant, is a mid-rise modular housing demonstration project consisting of 106 units. It was commissioned by the Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation (GH) and conducted as a national R&D project supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

With Hyundai Engineering’s top-tier modular manufacturing and construction technology capabilities, the successful completion of Yongin Yeongdeok Gyeonggi Happy Housing is expected to actively promote high-rise modular housing projects domestically in the future.

Based on the advantages of the modular construction method, Hyundai Engineering has anticipated a paradigm shift toward the industrialization of construction and has continuously pursued research and development and construction capabilities for modular architecture since 2012, including design, application of new materials, and precision construction techniques.

To date, Hyundai Engineering has acquired one new construction technology certification and 11 patents, and has participated in joint research with public institutions such as Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, as well as numerous OSC (Off-Site Construction) national R&D projects.

Expansion of Construction and Plant Business Areas and Overseas Market Entry

Hyundai Engineering is accumulating manufacturing and construction technology and know-how by applying modular construction methods to various ongoing sites. Currently, it is undertaking the 'Garibong Old Market Site Complex Private Participation Public Housing Project (Modular)' commissioned by Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation. This project involves constructing 174 units of Happy Housing using modular construction in the Guro-gu area of Seoul and is planned to be the tallest (12 stories) and largest scale modular housing in Seoul.

The modular construction method has also been applied to plant business sites. During the Kuwait Al-Zour LNG import terminal project completed in November 2021, 12 modules were used to construct 500 meters of the 1.2 km marine berth facility, resulting in a construction period reduction of over six months.

Hyundai Engineering is continuously developing technology to secure product competitiveness and residential performance equal to or better than existing multi-family housing by advancing the height and product diversification of modular housing in preparation for the expansion of private modular projects. In the plant sector, it plans to expand OSC through modularization and broaden its overall business scope.

Overseas business expansion is also under consideration. Since the factory production method enables active entry into export markets, Hyundai Engineering’s strategy is to target overseas markets based on its modular technology and diverse domestic and international implementation experience. The global modular construction market was estimated at approximately KRW 121 trillion as of 2022, with notable growth centered in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Japan, and is expected to reach about KRW 200 trillion by 2030.

A Hyundai Engineering official stated, "Hyundai Engineering’s modular construction capabilities are at a high level, demonstrated not only by the tallest modular housing in Korea and the largest modular housing in Seoul but also by the application of modular methods to large-scale plant projects. As the domestic private modular market expands and overseas business begins in earnest, Hyundai Engineering, with its R&D capabilities and extensive modular construction experience and know-how in architecture and plant businesses, will be able to lead the industry."

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