The Eunma Apartment has received its project implementation plan approval 33 days ahead of the legal deadline, drawing attention to the 'Redevelopment Acceleration Task Force' operated by Gangnam District. As redevelopment sites in Apgujeong and Daechi-dong look to Eunma as a model, interest is growing in whether this expedited approval process can be replicated elsewhere.
According to Gangnam District Office, there are currently 57 redevelopment projects underway, including the Eunma Apartment. The approval for the project implementation plan was granted earlier this month, taking just 27 days from application to approval, significantly shorter than the statutory processing time of 60 days.
The rapid approval is attributed to the 'Gangnam Redevelopment Acceleration Task Force.' Documents obtained exclusively by this agency reveal that the task force is led by the district mayor, with the head of the Urban Environment Bureau overseeing operations and the head of the redevelopment division managing practical matters.
The task force consists of a rapid response team, a field communication team, and a support group of experts. The rapid response team includes nine members from various departments, such as the Road Division and the Parks and Greenery Division, who quickly address administrative issues during the project process. The field communication team manages partnerships and consultations with residents and associations, while the expert support group comprises 40 external professionals, including lawyers and accountants, who assist with dispute resolution and specialized consultations.
Gangnam District explained that for the Eunma Apartment, they analyzed the results of integrated reviews and discussions with related agencies before the application for the project implementation plan was submitted, identifying potential issues in advance. After the application was received, approximately 80 related departments and agencies conducted simultaneous consultations, and any necessary revisions were promptly shared with the association to expedite the process. This proactive preparation and concurrent discussions contributed to the shortened approval timeline.
Indeed, the progress of redevelopment projects varies significantly, as shown in the status report released by Gangnam District this month. Projects that have completed the establishment of associations and are awaiting project implementation plan approval include Dogok Woosung (March 31, 2025), Gaepo Woosung 6th (April 24, 2024), and Gaepo Woosung 7th (February 2, 2024), with each waiting approximately 1.3 to 2.5 years after establishing their associations.
Several projects remain at the approval stage for their promotion committees. The Nonhyeon-dong project received promotion committee approval in April and is preparing for association establishment, while the Daechi Mido and Gaepo Hyundai 2nd projects also received promotion committee approval in March and are following up on subsequent procedures. Cases like the Eunma Apartment, which quickly progressed to project implementation plan approval, are still relatively rare.
Major redevelopment sites in Apgujeong and Daechi-dong are closely monitoring the Eunma case. The chairman of the Apgujeong 4th district association expressed optimism, stating, "We have high expectations after seeing the Eunma Apartment's progress." However, some voices on the ground indicate that the tangible benefits have yet to be felt. A member of the Daechi-dong redevelopment apartment association remarked, "While the task force is operational, we have not yet experienced a significant increase in the speed of redevelopment."
Industry analysts suggest that due to the symbolic nature of the Eunma Apartment, administrative resources have been concentrated there, making it challenging to apply the same expedited approach to all projects. Differences in scale, stakeholder interests, and the agencies involved will inevitably lead to variations in speed.
Meanwhile, as support for accelerating redevelopment spreads among local governments, Yangcheon District is also enhancing its support for the Mokdong redevelopment. A Yangcheon District official stated, "Since the 8th civil election, we have established an Urban Development Promotion Team to operate urban maintenance forums and provide on-site consulting for redevelopment projects, serving as a communication channel between the public and private sectors."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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