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The Seoul Metropolitan Government is accelerating housing supply efforts across 32 project sites in semi-industrial zones by leveraging an increased floor-area ratio cap of up to 400 percent, according to municipal reports. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the policy shift aims to revitalize stalled urban renewal projects and ease financial burdens for residents in historical manufacturing districts.
Seoul Raises Floor-Area Ratio to 400 Percent
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city revised its urban planning ordinance to permit a floor-area ratio of up to 400 percent for apartment construction in semi-industrial zones. Under previous regulations, strict density caps restricted developers from securing enough units to ensure financial feasibility. Rising member contributions had stalled numerous redevelopment and reconstruction projects across the capital’s southwestern districts.
According to reporting from Herald Business, roughly 82 percent of Seoul’s 19.97 million square meters of semi-industrial land sits within the southwestern districts of Yeongdeungpo, Guro, Gangseo, Geumcheon, and Yangcheon-gu, with smaller pockets located in Seongdong and Dobong-gu. These zones originally served as manufacturing hubs during the industrialization period of the 1960s and 1970s. As industrial profiles shifted, the areas experienced an influx of multifamily housing and knowledge industry complexes.
According to Biz.chosun.com, a total of 32 sites are currently moving forward under the relaxed framework to supply roughly 27,000 homes. This figure includes 24 reconstruction and redevelopment projects pursuing 19,122 units, alongside eight urban renewal redevelopment and district-unit planning projects targeting an additional 8,053 units. Prominent sites pursuing these plans include the Mullae Gukwha, Yangpyeong Sindonga, Seongsu 1, and Samhwan Dobong apartment complexes.
Yangpyeong Sindonga Serves as Flagship Project
According to Herald Business, the Yangpyeong Sindonga apartment complex in Yeongdeungpo District stands as the flagship beneficiary of the 400 percent floor-area ratio policy. Completed in 1982, the complex formed a reconstruction promotion committee in 2009 and gained designation as a renewal zone in 2011. Profitability hurdles, however, kept the project delayed for over a decade.
According to Biz.chosun.com, the project cleared an integrated review in March that jointly evaluates urban planning, architecture, landscape, traffic, and education. The relaxed floor-area ratio increased the planned reconstruction volume from 563 units to 762 units, adding 199 homes. City officials estimate that the resulting increase in general pre-sale volume and project revenue will reduce the financial burden on each member household by approximately 1 billion won.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the Yangpyeong Sindonga reconstruction site to inspect project progress and meet with local association members and residents, according to municipal statements covered by Herald Business and Biz.chosun.com.
City Administration Targets October 2029 Groundbreaking
According to Herald Business and Biz.chosun.com, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to reduce the timeline from project implementation plan approval to groundbreaking from five years down to four. Utilizing the Fast-Track Integrated Planning 2.0 system, the administration aims to shorten the approval, disposition, relocation, and demolition phases by four months each.
To maintain the schedule, the second deputy mayor for administration leads a special progress-acceleration meeting held jointly with all 25 autonomous districts, according to Herald Business. The initiative involves direct consultations with lead municipal departments, preliminary feasibility reviews by the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp., and early identification of potential bottlenecks, with an ultimate target of breaking ground in October 2029.
Looking ahead, the Seoul Metropolitan Government intends to guide the evolution of these districts based on local conditions, according to Herald Business. Areas with intense industrial activity or high growth potential will receive support to develop into advanced hubs featuring office and high-tech facilities, while predominantly residential pockets will receive continued support for housing supply, expanded green spaces, and everyday infrastructure.
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