Safety Inspection Threshold Lowered... Reconstruction Boosted for 300,000 Seoul Households

Reduction of Structural Safety Weight from 50% to 30%
Appropriateness Review Only Upon Local Government Request

Apartment buildings in the Mokdong area of Yangcheon-gu, Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] The 'safety inspection' criteria, considered the last regulatory hurdle for reconstruction maintenance projects, will be significantly relaxed starting from the 5th. The weight of structural safety among the safety inspection evaluation items will be reduced, and the secondary detailed safety inspection (appropriateness review) will be conducted selectively by local governments delegated with authority.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th that it will revise and implement the 'Housing Reconstruction Safety Inspection Standards' and the 'Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Plan Establishment Guidelines' accordingly.

Accordingly, the weight of structural safety in the evaluation items will decrease from 50% to 30%. Instead, the weights for residential environment and building finishing and facility aging will increase from 15% to 30% and from 25% to 30%, respectively.

The score range for the 'conditional reconstruction' corresponding to safety inspection grade D will also be adjusted from 30 to 55 points or less to 45 to 55 points or less. In other words, the number of complexes judged as 'reconstruction' (grade E), which can proceed with reconstruction immediately, will increase.

Public institution appropriateness reviews will only be conducted when local governments deem it necessary, reducing time and costs. Until now, private safety inspection agencies conducted safety inspections, and if the complex qualified for conditional reconstruction, it was mandatory to undergo a public institution appropriateness review.

Complexes that are subject to mandatory public institution appropriateness reviews under existing regulations but have not yet completed them will also be subject to the revised regulations. Complexes already judged as conditional reconstruction may have their maintenance district designation timing adjusted by local governments if necessary, such as concerns over rental price surges in surrounding areas.

Comparison of Current and Improved Standards for Reconstruction Safety Inspections / Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

As a result of this revision, 12 out of 21 places previously judged as conditional reconstruction can immediately proceed with reconstruction. Additionally, 14 out of 25 places nationwide that were judged as 'maintenance' (not eligible for reconstruction) can now qualify for conditional reconstruction. By region, there are 4 places in Seoul (2 in Yangcheon-gu, 1 each in Nowon and Yeongdeungpo-gu), 4 in Gyeonggi (1 each in Namyangju, Bucheon, Suwon, and Ansan), 2 in Busan (1 each in Suyeong and Busanjin-gu), 3 in Daegu (1 each in Dalseo, Buk, and Seo-gu), and 1 in Gyeongbuk (Gumi). However, these complexes must undergo the safety inspection process again.

The number of places newly pursuing safety inspections is also expected to increase. In Seoul, there are 389 places and 304,862 households that have reached the reconstruction eligibility age (30 years after completion) but have not yet undergone safety inspections.

Park Yong-seon, head of the Housing Maintenance Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "Excessive regulations that blocked the first gateway of reconstruction projects have been rationalized," and added, "We plan to actively consult with the National Assembly to expedite the processing of already proposed legislative amendments for rationalizing reconstruction charges and normalizing the market."