Suncheon City Architectural Review Committee Rejects 43-Story High-Rise Apartment in Deokam-dong... Amid Controversy

Pressure Continues to Demand Changes to the Basic Architectural Policy Plan...

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The Suncheon City Architectural Deliberation Committee rejected the architectural review for a 43-story (4 basement floors, 39 above ground floors) residential-commercial complex apartment planned to supply 706 households on Deokam-dong lot 142 (site area 16,787㎡) on the 24th of last month.

The project site is a commercial area with no floor restrictions to promote commercial buildings, but for residential buildings, it is limited to 5 floors or less according to Suncheon City's landscape plan and basic architectural policy plan. Since the surrounding buildings are up to 8 floors (built before the landscape area change), the intention is to plan the floors to harmonize with the nearby surroundings.

Therefore, the rejection decision by the Suncheon City Architectural Deliberation Committee for the 43-story residential-commercial apartment is natural, but there are ongoing complaints demanding project approval and pressure to change the basic architectural policy plan.

Some Suncheon city council members and self-proclaimed urban planning experts are voicing that Suncheon City's basic architectural policy plan is unreasonable and should be changed.

Last year, a similar attempt to build a 40-story high-rise apartment near the Suncheon E-Mart site close to the project site was also rejected in the review.

Thus, if Suncheon City changes the basic architectural policy plan to approve this construction project, there is a high risk of controversy over 'special favors.' Additionally, there is a strong argument that commercial areas are not suitable for residential apartment sites in the eco-city of Suncheon.

Citizen A questioned, “What and who are the people demanding approval for the 43-story apartment for?” and argued, “If changes to the city master plan or basic architectural policy plan are necessary, they should be reviewed periodically to avoid misunderstandings.”

Currently, the equipment held by the Suncheon Fire Station for fire suppression and rescue, such as ladder trucks, can reach up to the height of a 15-story apartment.

The fire that occurred in 2010 at the 38-story residential-commercial apartment 'Marine City Wooshin Golden Suite' in Busan started on the 4th floor and spread to the 38th floor in just 30 minutes. Subsequently, in March 2011, the 'Special Act on Disaster Management for Super High-Rise and Underground-Connected Complex Buildings' was enacted.

However, only buildings over 50 floors or taller than 200 meters are classified as 'super high-rise buildings' and subject to strict safety regulation reviews, so 43-story quasi-high-rise apartments are not included. Without special equipment and facilities, they remain vulnerable to disasters such as fires.