Seoul Excludes Hanok in Architectural Asset Promotion Zones from Mandatory Ecological Area Ratio

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on May 13 that it will improve the "ecological area ratio" system, which has acted as a constraint when constructing Hanok (traditional Korean houses) within the Architectural Asset Promotion Zones.

The ecological area ratio is a system that requires a certain percentage of a site’s area to be secured as green space or other areas capable of supporting natural circulation, during development projects or construction. It was established to help alleviate the urban heat island effect, prevent flooding, and protect habitats for living organisms, and can be met through natural ground greenery, artificial ground greenery, water spaces, rooftop greening, and more. Depending on the use and scale of the building, at least a certain percentage of the site area (such as 20% or more for general buildings) must be allocated for such purposes.

In areas designated as Architectural Asset Promotion Zones, special provisions have allowed building coverage ratios of up to 90% for Hanok construction. At the same time, the ecological area ratio standard (20% or more for general buildings) also had to be satisfied. Architectural Asset Promotion Zones are designed to preserve and systematically manage areas densely populated with architectural assets such as Hanok.

The issue was that, due to the structural characteristics of Hanok, it is difficult to apply the ecological area ratio standard in the same way as for ordinary buildings.

The city has comprehensively reviewed the necessity and validity of system improvements through gathering feedback from related departments, local governments, and expert consultations. As a result, it has revised the guidelines for operating the ecological area ratio and has excluded Hanok within Architectural Asset Promotion Zones from the mandatory ecological area ratio requirement. This revision is expected to resolve conflicts between the special building coverage provisions and the ecological area ratio standard, thereby increasing the feasibility of Hanok construction.

Ahn Daehee, Director-General of Urban Space at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "This revision of the ecological area ratio guidelines is a carefully considered measure that balances the preservation of urban ecological value with the promotion of architectural assets," and added, "We will continue to make reasonable improvements to eliminate unreasonable regulations and reconcile discrepancies between actual practice and the system, while maintaining urban ecological functions."