Announcement on Relaxation of Reconstruction Safety Inspection Standards... Reconstruction in Nowon-gu 'Gains Momentum'

[Seoul District News] Nowon-gu Gains Momentum for Rapid Reconstruction Following Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Reconstruction Safety Diagnosis Rationalization Plan' Announcement on the 8th ▲ 38 Apartment Complexes Undergoing Safety Diagnosis, 3 Eligible for Immediate Reconstruction ▲ Seoul Ordinance to Support Safety Diagnosis Costs Passed, Accelerating Reconstruction Efforts

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced on the 8th that it will actively promote the reconstruction of aging apartments following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's announcement of significantly lowered safety inspection standards for reconstruction.

The relaxation of safety inspection standards, which many aging apartments have long awaited, has been an issue that Nowon-gu has repeatedly requested.

The revision drastically lowered the weight of structural safety from the previous 50% to 30%, increased the weight of residential environment from the current 15% to 30%, and raised the weight of facility aging from the current 25% to 30%. Conditional reconstruction, which mandates appropriateness review by public institutions, will be exceptionally implemented only upon request from autonomous districts.

Currently, Nowon has 45 apartment complexes with over 30 years of age, comprising about 67,000 households, which will increase to 119 complexes and approximately 109,000 households by 2030. This accounts for 88.4% of all apartments in Nowon-gu.

Although many complexes have pursued reconstruction, many failed to pass the safety inspection standards due to buildings being structurally safe. Due to poor residential environments such as inter-floor noise, rust caused by aging pipes, and parking wars, population has been rapidly moving to nearby new towns.

Nowon-gu has repeatedly requested the government to relax safety inspection standards since 2018, and in May 2021, the district conveyed its position on relaxing safety inspection standards to the Mayor of Seoul, and in October to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Alongside this, preparations for reconstruction have continued. In September, the first-ever public-private consultative body nationwide, the ‘Nowon Reconstruction and Redevelopment Rapid Promotion Team,’ was formed, involving a total of 90 participants including members of the National Assembly, city and district council members, reconstruction and redevelopment promoters, related private organizations, and experts.

Additionally, a ‘Rapid Promotion TF Team’ was newly established, and a support system was built. The district produced a reconstruction maintenance project manual and supports smooth progress of maintenance projects through customized consulting and operation of a counseling center.

The ‘Joint Housing Reconstruction Support Plan Establishment Service’ was also completed to support reconstruction promotion tailored to local conditions. It includes analyzing the business feasibility of reconstruction complexes and establishing step-by-step implementation plans to revitalize reconstruction.

On November 29, at the ‘National Assembly Policy Forum for Rapid Promotion of Nowon-type Reconstruction’ hosted by local National Assembly members, the necessity of relaxing reconstruction standards was also emphasized.

Currently, the district is actively promoting ‘district pre-support and post-recovery of apartment safety inspection costs’ because target apartment complexes are struggling to secure safety inspection costs. In October, at the initiative of District Mayor Oh Seung-rok, a proposal for the district to support the costs for safety inspections and recover them before completion approval was adopted as an agenda item at the District Mayor Council.

A Seoul city ordinance amendment allowing autonomous districts to support safety inspection costs has been proposed and is scheduled to be submitted to the Housing and Spatial Committee, the relevant standing committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, on the 19th. The district plans to reflect the budget for safety inspection cost support in next year's supplementary budget once the ordinance passes.

Currently, there are 38 complexes in the area pursuing safety inspections for reconstruction. Although the threshold for reconstruction was high under the existing standards, three complexes are expected to be able to reconstruct immediately, and two complexes will have their appropriateness review decided by the district after a basic review procedure. Complexes with completed on-site investigations are also expected to gain momentum in reconstruction promotion.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s announcement of easing safety inspection regulations is a great welcome as it is the result of Nowon-gu’s efforts to relax reconstruction safety inspections,” adding, “Since reconstruction is a matter of survival, we will steadily establish measures and provide maximum support to ensure it proceeds with a sense of urgency.”