Unapproved Housing Permits Total 176,000 Units... "Project Duration Shortened by Mandatory Integrated Review"

The government has decided to improve the system, including making integrated reviews mandatory, to speed up the approval process amid concerns over the housing supply shortage.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) held a policy council with 17 metropolitan cities and provinces to discuss measures to promote housing construction project approvals, the ministry announced on the 25th. This is a follow-up to the "Housing Supply Activation Plan" announced on the 26th of last month.

According to MOLIT, the nationwide housing approval volume from January to August this year was 212,757 units, a decrease of about 40% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of pending approvals for applications submitted but not yet approved since January last year was estimated at about 176,000 units.

Accordingly, MOLIT plans to continue discussions with the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces through the council to promptly process the pending approvals and innovate unnecessary regulations to ease the burden on project entities.

At the council meeting, housing approval officials from each city and province stated that delays in consultations among related agencies, including various impact assessments, are the main factors slowing down the approval process. They proposed making integrated reviews mandatory and expanding the subjects of agenda items and integrated reviews to maximize the effect, as these systems can shorten project periods.

Additionally, they discussed system improvement proposals to reduce the burden on private developers, such as relaxing the requirement to complete underground safety evaluations before construction and simplifying the approval procedures for project plan changes.

Kim Hyo-jung, Director of Housing Policy at MOLIT, said, "Rapid approval processing is crucial to activate private-led housing supply," adding, "We will actively promote the regulatory innovation tasks discussed at the council." She also added, "We will work to ensure that the amendment to the Housing Act related to making integrated reviews mandatory, which is currently pending in the National Assembly, is processed promptly."

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