The South Korean government is revisiting the possibility of releasing portions of the greenbelt to expand housing supply. This comes as the major third new towns, which also involved significant greenbelt releases, have faced delays due to compensation, transportation plans, and permitting issues. Experts argue that accelerating existing projects should take precedence over additional releases.
According to government and parliamentary sources, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Koo Yun-cheol mentioned on August 3 the potential for partial greenbelt releases and the utilization of military facilities as part of housing supply expansion measures. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok also stated during a national real estate policy forum on July 27 that the government would consider partial greenbelt releases if necessary to supply housing.
Discussions regarding this issue are ongoing within the government. The Ministry of Land has commissioned a study on regulatory improvements aimed at optimizing land use, including greenbelt areas, to better fit local conditions. Additionally, a bill has been proposed in the National Assembly to simplify the procedures for releasing greenbelt areas during the development of metropolitan area railway stations.
The mention of greenbelt releases as a potential solution arises from the limited options for securing large-scale new housing sites in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area. Redevelopment and reconstruction projects are lengthy, and the government has been cautious about fully relaxing regulations due to concerns over supply gaps from the demolition of existing homes and rising housing prices.
However, releasing greenbelt land does not guarantee immediate housing supply. Major third new towns, including Wangsuk in Namyangju, Gyosan in Hanam, Changneung in Goyang, Daejang in Bucheon, and Gyeyang in Incheon, have secured a foundation for approximately 193,000 housing units through greenbelt utilization, but they have encountered delays due to land compensation, resident consultations, transportation plans, and environmental impact assessments.
The Gwangmyeong and Siheung projects exemplify the long-term nature of these developments. Designated as housing districts in 2010, the projects stalled, leading to the cancellation of their designation in 2015. They were reinitiated as public housing districts in 2021, with land compensation procedures only beginning in earnest this year. Incheon Gyeyang was the first among the third new towns to start its initial applications, but the first occupancy is not expected until the second half of this year.
As a result, industry experts emphasize that speeding up existing public housing projects should be prioritized over additional greenbelt releases. While greenbelt areas can provide large-scale housing sites, they also face challenges such as environmental degradation, resident opposition, compensation issues, and lengthy project timelines.
Conversely, some argue that strategic utilization of the greenbelt is essential for securing long-term housing supply. With available land in the metropolitan area decreasing, selective use of areas with high levels of degradation, as well as military facilities, railway sites, idle public land, and high-density development around transit stations, should be pursued alongside other supply methods.
Kim Hyo-sun, a senior real estate expert at KB Kookmin Bank, stated, "Before considering additional releases, it is necessary to examine the causes of delays in existing projects, especially in light of the third new town cases. The greenbelt serves as a green corridor in the metropolitan area and a space for future generations, so it is crucial to consider climate change responses, connections with existing urban areas, and securing public interests in the process."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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