Donghae City Sees Surge in Mukho Startups... Urges Caution Against Unpermitted Construction and Illegal Building Activities

Donghae City in Gangwon Province has urged special caution by providing guidance on compliance with permits and presenting past enforcement cases, aiming to proactively prevent illegal or unauthorized construction activities in the Mukho area amid a rise in new business establishments.

A view of Donghae City Hall. Provided by Donghae City.

Recently, the Mukho area has seen a significant increase in tourists, leading to a rapid rise in demand for new businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and accommodations, especially in alley commercial districts and shops near the port.

As a result, not only prospective entrepreneurs from other regions but also Donghae City residents are increasingly leasing vacant retail spaces and starting operations immediately after interior renovations.

However, the city explained that in some stores, construction has proceeded without fully checking permit requirements for building use, structure, and area, resulting in violations such as illegal extensions or unauthorized structural modifications.

In fact, there have been cases where some establishments, in an attempt to expand their business space, demolished walls, altered floors and ceiling heights, or installed external awnings and extension structures, only to be identified as illegal constructions and subsequently ordered to correct the violations or dismantle the structures voluntarily.

The city emphasized that in such cases, even after completing renovations, businesses may be unable to obtain operating permits, or may face restoration orders and be subject to enforcement fines, leading to significant losses of time and money.

Donghae City stated, "Even if renovations appear to be simple interior work, any changes to the use, structure, or area of a building are subject to permits or notifications under relevant laws," adding, "If construction is carried out without prior verification, the business itself may fail to launch."

Donghae City has continuously carried out crackdowns on illegal buildings, focusing on the Mukho area. The city inspected 44 stores and shops from Mukho Market to Balhan Samgeori and the vicinity of Kkamakbawi in Eodal-dong, detected illegal awnings and extension or reconstruction activities, issued correction orders, and encouraged voluntary compliance. For noncompliance, administrative measures such as enforcement fines were imposed.

A Donghae City official said, "In order for the Mukho commercial district to grow into a sustainable tourism and commercial hub rather than just a temporary trend, a healthy start-up culture that abides by the law is essential." The official also urged, "Please thoroughly check permit requirements in the early stages of your business to prevent unnecessary damages." The official added, "We will continue to strengthen joint consultations with related departments and on-site inspections to support the creation of a safe and transparent commercial district."

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