[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] An official council will be launched, bringing together 70 remodeling complexes in Seoul. This move comes as the number of apartment complexes urgently needing remodeling due to building aging increases, raising calls for system improvements. As the aging problem of first-generation new town apartments in the Seoul metropolitan area, which were completed over 30 years ago, has surfaced, presidential candidates have consecutively promised to revitalize remodeling, drawing attention.
According to the maintenance industry on the 22nd, on the 26th, remodeling associations and promotion committees from 70 complexes in the Seoul area will gather to hold the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Seoul Remodeling Housing Association’ and officially launch it. The council includes 44 remodeling associations such as ‘Garak Ssangyong 1st’, ‘Gaepo Daecheong’, ‘Banpo Prugio’, ‘Ichon Kolon’, and ‘Ichon Gangchon’, as well as 26 remodeling promotion committees including Garak Sang-a 2nd, Seocho Raemian, and Yongsan Dowon Samsung Raemian.
Seo Jeong-tae, chairman of the Jayang Woosung 1st association and head of the council, said, “There were not many cases of remodeling projects, so information sharing among associations and related policy maintenance were insufficient,” adding, “The purpose of forming the council is to systematically proceed with projects and actively cooperate with Seoul City, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, etc., to lead overall system improvements related to remodeling.”
Recently, the remodeling craze has intensified nationwide, with about 300 promotion complexes. Especially, complexes completed in the 1990s are eagerly establishing associations to improve the quality of residence, which has declined due to lack of parking facilities and building aging.
After its launch, the council plans to announce an activity roadmap to revitalize remodeling projects. First, it will create an association-centered ecosystem through the establishment of standard contract and service agreements and verification of construction costs, and further proceed with internal improvements of association tasks such as association bylaws, budgets, and finishing materials. Additionally, it will participate in remodeling policy formulation by Seoul City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and propose amendments to remodeling-related laws such as the Housing Act and tax laws.
Meanwhile, Seoul City raised expectations by including public support measures such as project cost support and maintenance fund preparation for remodeling project revitalization in the revised ‘2025 Seoul City Apartment Remodeling Basic Plan’ prepared at the end of last year. Recently, at a first-generation new town revitalization forum, local government heads expressed the need for the enactment of a special law on remodeling support and tax relief, increasing anticipation.
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