Gukhim Kang Gamchang Songpa-gu Mayor Primary Candidate's No.1 Pledge 'Songpa Residential Redevelopment Project 3UP'

"Promise of 'Business Speed, Floor Area Ratio, and Future Value Increase'"

Gang Gamchang, prospective candidate for Songpa District Mayor, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (right)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kang Gam-chang, candidate for Songpa District Mayor (People Power Party), announced the "3UP of Songpa's Residential Redevelopment Projects" as his first pledge related to the June 1 local elections.

Kang's election pledges will be announced sequentially under the name "Kang Gam-chang Pledge (Strong and Impressive Creative Pledge)."

On the 27th, Kang stated, "In various redevelopment projects underway in Songpa, I announce the '3UP of Songpa's Residential Redevelopment Projects'?▲speed UP, ▲floor area ratio UP, and ▲future residential value UP?as my first pledge," adding, "As the problem solver for urban redevelopment projects, Kang Gam-chang will change the map of Songpa in the shortest time possible."

Regarding the 'Speed UP in Redevelopment Projects' plan, Kang proposed alternatives such as ▲forming a 'Rapid Integrated Support TF for Reconstruction and Redevelopment,' a problem-solving team commuting to the site ▲installing a reconstruction status board in the mayor's office to check progress weekly ▲operating a hotline with Seoul City ▲forming a 'Dream Team' advisory committee composed of experts including lawyers, accountants, architects, urban planners, and redevelopment-related professionals.

In particular, he intends to assist through a public-private joint effort in ▲consulting to enhance the professionalism of associations ▲listening to residents' opinions ▲monitoring current issues ▲solving problems for each project site.

This is an upgraded version of Seoul City's 'Redevelopment Coordinator System' and 'Rapid Integrated Redevelopment,' aiming to mediate conflicts and resolve disputes among residents, associations, and construction companies from the planning stage to subscription.

□ Songpa Residential Redevelopment Projects 3UP

1. Project Speed UP

1) Formation of 'Rapid Integrated Support TF for Reconstruction and Redevelopment'

※ Concurrent with the formation of the 'Dream Team' advisory committee

2) Installation of reconstruction status board in the mayor's office

3) Operation of hotline with Seoul City Hall

2. Floor Area Ratio UP

1) Securing supply volume contributing to price stabilization through high-density development

2) Utilizing part of the increased floor area for residential stability of low-income households

3) Enhancing re-settlement rate through priority subscription system for local residents

3. Future Value UP

1) Creating a premium residential city through Beyond Zoning

2) Open and creative skyline revolution

3) Promoting pilot projects for autonomous logistics delivery using robots and drones

Kang further explained the 'Floor Area Ratio UP' plan: "Through the 4-type zoning upgrade in Songpa, i.e., upgrading general residential areas and floor area ratios, we will ▲secure supply volume contributing to price stabilization through high-density development ▲utilize part of the increased floor area for residential stability of low-income households ▲enhance re-settlement rates through priority subscription for local residents."

He added, "Regarding relocation measures pushed aside by development logic, I feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in protecting residents' rights by resolving issues tangled from simple complaints to conflicts," and explained, "Kang Gam-chang's Songpa 4-type zoning upgrade is a strategy to increase re-settlement rates during urban redevelopment projects by enforcing priority subscription rights for residents."

Regarding 'Future Value UP,' Kang emphasized, "It means creating Songpa as ▲a premium residential city through Beyond Zoning ▲an open and creative skyline revolution ▲promoting pilot projects for autonomous logistics delivery using robots and drones."

He said, "All urban redevelopment in Songpa will be implemented under the vision and strategy of creating a global hot place attracting domestic and international tourists, greatly contributing to local economic revitalization," and pledged, "To dramatically increase Songpa's future value, I will create ▲Songpa where the breath of the Hanseong Baekje era lives ▲a premium city where 4th Industrial Revolution new technologies assist daily convenience ▲Songpa with a dignified and distinctive skyline."

Kang said, "In the vibrant city of Songpa, redevelopment is underway in about 60 sites, including 6 redevelopment sites, 18 reconstruction sites, 7 remodeling sites, and about 30 safety inspections," adding, "The miracle of Helio City with 3-type zoning upgrade and Songpa with 4-type zoning upgrade will continue."

According to Kang, urban redevelopment projects involving a total of 60,000 households, including redevelopment, reconstruction, remodeling, street housing, local housing, and private housing, are underway in Songpa-gu. Considering areas awaiting safety inspections, relatively underdeveloped regions, and the ripple effects of real estate development, the core issue in Songpa-gu inevitably becomes real estate policy.

Kang summarized the spirit of Songpa 4-type zoning upgrade as 'High High High High 4 Highs.' ▲Dramatically increasing floor area ratios in about 60 redevelopment projects ▲Enhancing dignity with skylines desired by residents ▲Increasing owners' benefits and tenants' re-settlement rates ▲Raising the value of Songpa as a living space.

He revealed that through the 3-type zoning upgrade of Helio City, he achieved results such as ▲raising the average building height from 18 to a maximum of 35 floors ▲reducing association members' contributions ▲expanding the increased floor area for residential stability of low-income households ▲creating a premium complex with a 1km park.

Kang Gam-chang, an architect by training, is known as an urban policy expert who proactively proposed Seoul City's urban policies and led policy changes. He was the key figure who upgraded the large-scale reconstruction complex Garak Apartments (6,600 households) from type 2 to type 3, giving birth to Helio City (9,510 households). He is famous for proposing ideas ahead of Seoul city officials from idea discovery to approval, leading the process two steps ahead to achieve dream-like results desired by residents.

□ Kang Gam-chang working with the Yoon Suk-yeol government and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon

Kang, an urban policy expert who has worked across central and local governments as well as national and local assemblies, served as the chairman of the Urban Infrastructure Committee in Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential campaign committee, drawing the blueprint for the new government's urban infrastructure policy.

Kang emphasized, "The core of the local elections is changing the lives of local residents," adding, "A Songpa-tailored representative who can develop the region and an urban policy expert familiar with discovering Songpa's residential value must become Songpa District Mayor for Songpa to change dramatically."

He also stated, "Only by maximizing cooperation with the new government and Seoul City can we realize the dreams of Songpa residents," and pledged, "I will change the map of Songpa with the birth of the second and third Helio City."

He continued, "The right person to create a new Songpa with the Yoon Suk-yeol government and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is Kang Gam-chang," adding, "With Kang Gam-chang, Songpa will become a place of different dignity." He claims that Songpa can embrace both the socially vulnerable and future value together.

□ Career Path

? Chairman of the Urban Infrastructure Committee, Yoon Suk-yeol Presidential Candidate Election Committee

? Vice Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Chairman of Construction Committee (3-term Seoul Metropolitan Council member)

? Floor Leader of the Liberty Korea Party in Seoul Metropolitan Council

? Member of the Urban Planning and Management Committee, Seoul Metropolitan Council

? Member of Seoul City Mayor's Redevelopment Project Review Committee / Urban Design Committee / Urban Architecture Joint Committee

? Commissioned as Army Officer and served in Special Forces (Reserve Captain)

? Graduated from Inha University Department of Architectural Engineering and Graduate School of Architecture

? Licensed Architect (current)