Postnatal Care Centers and Public Wedding Halls to Be Built as Public Contributions in Redevelopment Projects [Real Estate AtoZ]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is diversifying the types of facilities it receives as public contributions in exchange for relaxing floor area ratio regulations for reconstruction and redevelopment projects.

Gireum Daycare Center, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The daycare center, commonly called "Nochwon" (Senior + Kindergarten), is a facility that cares for the elderly who are not yet in need of nursing home care but have difficulty living independently due to early-stage dementia or other age-related illnesses (long-term care levels 1 to 5). Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

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According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other sources on October 28, the Yeouido Eunha Apartment complex, which is currently under public notice, has prepared a redevelopment plan that includes the construction of a public dormitory, a maternal health promotion center (postnatal care center), and public rental housing as part of its public contribution. Similarly, the nearby Samik Apartment complex has drawn up a plan to provide a public dormitory, senior welfare facilities, and public rental housing as public contributions.

In terms of the types of facilities being donated, discussions are underway regarding the introduction of postnatal care centers at nine redevelopment sites, Kids Land facilities at three sites, and active senior facilities at two sites. In May of this year, the city revised its urban planning ordinance to add postnatal care centers, public wedding halls, Kids Land, and active senior facilities-facilities aimed at supporting aging and low birth rates-to the list of eligible public contribution facilities.

Public contribution refers to the free transfer of private property to the government or local authorities. The city grants floor area ratio incentives in exchange for receiving not only infrastructure such as roads and parks, but also buildings like public rental housing and public facilities as public contributions. The National Land Planning Act stipulates that facilities specified by ordinance may be donated as public contributions when establishing district unit plans.

To reduce conflicts related to public contribution facilities, the city is encouraging the simultaneous construction of both preferred and non-preferred facilities. For example, Yeouido Daegyo Apartment has decided to build a daycare center and a multi-purpose sports facility together, and the project has been advancing quickly, receiving project implementation approval within 11 months. Mokdong Complex 4 will also provide public contributions by building a daycare center and an underground parking lot. In areas frequently affected by flooding, such as Daechi Mido and Daechi Eunma, underground retention facilities will be constructed as public facilities and donated to the city.

Daycare centers are a representative example of facilities that residents are not fond of. In Seocho-gu's Sinbanpo 7th Complex, a plan was finalized during the preliminary reconstruction planning phase to build a daycare center, but conflicts arose as some residents opposed the idea. In the case of Yeouido Sibeom Apartment, the first project under the streamlined planning initiative, opposition to the installation of a daycare center last year delayed the designation of the redevelopment zone, and the conflict continued for over a year before finally being resolved when residents accepted the plan.

A Seoul city official explained, "Even at the Urban Planning Committee, after analyzing the facilities and services that must be provided within the area, if there is a shortage, we require them to be built together with the reconstruction project. Residents often refer to certain facilities as 'undesirable facilities,' and if it seems that opposition may delay the project, we sometimes include other facilities that residents want. This makes it possible to persuade residents. These decisions are made taking qualitative factors into account."

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