Seoul City has strongly opposed the proposal to transfer the authority for designating maintenance areas for redevelopment and reconstruction projects involving fewer than 500 units, calling it an ineffective measure.
Kim Dong-gu, acting director of the Seoul City Architecture Planning Division, held a briefing on the transfer of authority for projects under 500 units at Seoul City Hall on August 24. He stated, "Transferring authority to local districts will not significantly increase housing supply or shorten project timelines. Seoul functions as an organic living area, necessitating a comprehensive review of urban infrastructure such as water supply, roads, and parks."
Seoul City is particularly concerned about the potential for differing standards for maintenance projects across districts. If the authority to designate areas is transferred, urban planning criteria may vary based on local conditions and judgments, leading to issues such as favoritism and real estate speculation.
Kim explained, "If standards differ by district, it could lead to favoritism and real estate speculation, as well as serious conflicts among residents."
Seoul City also expressed concern that the threshold of 500 units could artificially fragment maintenance areas. Kim noted, "Areas that were progressing smoothly could be divided into smaller projects of under 500 units, which may hinder the expansion of community facilities for residents."
Dividing maintenance areas could make it difficult to secure sufficient community amenities such as daycare centers, senior centers, recreational facilities, and small libraries. Seoul City is also worried that residents may attempt to voluntarily divide areas to enhance project viability or expedite procedures.
Kim stated, "It does not appear that urban management policies will be reviewed uniformly across districts. There is a possibility that separate criteria will be applied based on the benefits and judgments of district heads, raising concerns about uncontrolled development."
Seoul City emphasized that most maintenance projects involving fewer than 500 units are already undergoing local approval processes. According to the city, there are currently 472 small-scale maintenance projects underway in Seoul, totaling approximately 484,000 units. Kim noted, "Of these, 193 projects involve fewer than 500 units, with 31 currently in the area designation stage," adding that the city is responsible for only about 16% of the area designation procedures.
Seoul City also refuted claims that it serves as a bottleneck in the area designation process. The city explained that it integrates reviews across nine fields, with an average processing time of 32 days and an approval rate of 97%.
Instead, Seoul City identified factors such as restrictions on relocation loans and limitations on the transfer of membership rights as obstacles hindering redevelopment projects. Kim emphasized, "Ultimately, accelerating redevelopment projects depends on practical support rather than the location of authority."
Concerns were also raised about whether local districts have sufficient administrative capacity if authority is transferred. Kim pointed out that there are not many personnel with experience in directly handling integrated reviews across nine fields in local districts, raising doubts about their ability to comprehensively review and make swift decisions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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