Dongdaemun District Abolishes Mandatory Resident Community Facility Installation Amid Effectiveness Concerns

Improving Building Administration
by Streamlining Inefficient Regulations

Dongdaemun District in Seoul (Mayor Lee Pilhyung) announced on November 19 that it will abolish the “Resident Community Facility Installation and Operation Plan,” which has been in place since 2017. The district explained that the purpose is to improve the efficiency of building administration by revising regulations that have only increased the burden on developers while offering low operational efficiency.

Lee Pilhyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District. Provided by Dongdaemun District Office.

The “Resident Community Facility Installation and Operation Plan” was a system that required the mandatory installation of community facilities such as small libraries or lounges when constructing apartment complexes above a certain size. However, questions about its effectiveness have persisted, as these facilities have often been operated exclusively for residents or have been closed due to poor management.

There has also been criticism that the burden on developers is excessive, as separate regulations were being redundantly applied despite the fact that the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Housing Ordinance” already stipulates related standards. The district expects that abolishing the system will reduce the burden of civil complaints and unnecessary administrative procedures.

Following this decision, the obligation to install resident community facilities will no longer apply to new buildings seeking architectural review or permits. However, facilities that have already been installed will be operated autonomously by the building managers.

Lee Pilhyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, stated, “By boldly revising regulations that lack effectiveness, we will enhance administrative credibility and realize efficient building administration that both residents and developers can truly feel.” He added, “We will continue to improve systems by reflecting feedback from the field.”

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