Reconstruction Pilot Zones in 1st Generation New Towns Emerge in All Five Cities

At Least One Site Designated in All 5 New Towns... Considering Fairness and Resident Opposition

Lead districts (pilot districts) for the redevelopment of the 1st generation new towns will be designated in all five new towns?Ilsan, Bundang, Jungdong, Pyeongchon, and Sanbon?without exception, with at least one district selected in each area.

Considering fairness and residents' opposition, pilot districts will be established not only in specific areas but across all regions.

Lead districts serve as pilot cases for the reconstruction of the 1st generation new towns. Among dozens of complexes, these are the first to undergo redevelopment projects, allowing the designated complexes to initiate reconstruction projects starting with safety inspection applications.

On the 24th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, held a meeting with local government heads of the 1st generation new towns at the Government Sejong Complex to discuss plans for designating lead redevelopment districts.

The meeting was attended by Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang; Shin Sang-jin, Mayor of Seongnam; Jo Yong-ik, Mayor of Bucheon; Choi Dae-ho, Mayor of Anyang; Ha Eun-ho, Mayor of Gunpo; and master planners (MPs) from each region.

Minister Won and the local government heads agreed to designate at least one lead district per each of the five new towns, with the local governments?who are well acquainted with regional conditions?directly selecting the districts after gathering residents' opinions.

Since simultaneous reconstruction of the 300,000 housing units in the 1st generation new towns could trigger massive relocation demand and destabilize the housing market, there was a consensus that the process should proceed in phases.

The criteria for designating lead districts include ▲ resident participation ▲ degree of aging and resident inconvenience ▲ potential for spreading exemplary cases.

Just as the first village was developed during Sejong City’s development and pilot apartments were the first to break ground during Yeouido’s development?securing momentum for the entire project?there was agreement on the need for lead districts to act as a catalyst.

Once designated as lead districts, administrative procedures will be expedited to enable swift follow-up processes. Infrastructure for future cities, such as autonomous driving and urban air mobility (UAM), will also be prioritized for installation. Local governments will additionally support safety inspection and consulting costs.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s proposed timeline is to complete the master plan for the redevelopment of the 1st generation new towns and designate lead districts by 2024.

Minister Won emphasized the need for speed, stating, "We will ensure that not a single day is wasted."

He added, "If mayors with legal authority and master planners swiftly carry out the process of gathering residents' opinions, we will do our best to support the establishment of legal plans and legislative processes."

Considering residents’ opposition in the new towns, he reiterated that there will be no delays caused by the master plan formulation process.

Minister Won explained, "The master plan is a basic plan that each city is obligated to establish, and it only plays a supporting role for matters that local governments cannot resolve on their own."

He further stated, "We intend to proceed with lead districts as quickly as possible, leaving room for the volume that each city can handle."

Going forward, once the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport presents guidelines for designating lead districts through the basic redevelopment policy within the master plan, local governments will prepare detailed designation criteria based on these guidelines.

The Ministry plans to include the legal basis and guidelines for designating lead districts in the special law for the redevelopment of the 1st generation new towns, which is scheduled to be proposed in February 2023.