Abolition of 35-Story Limit... '2040 Seoul Urban Basic Plan' Confirmed

Completion of Urban Planning Committee Review and Procedures
Reflecting Rapid Social and Environmental Changes
"Enhancing Citizens' Quality of Life and Urban Competitiveness"

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] The '2040 Seoul Basic Urban Plan,' which includes a new future spatial strategy such as the complete abolition of the 35-story height restriction, is set to be fully implemented.

Seoul City announced on the 5th that it will finalize and publicly announce the 2040 Seoul Basic Urban Plan. The 2040 Seoul Basic Urban Plan is the highest-level spatial plan that serves as a guideline for various plans that Seoul will pursue, outlining the future vision of the city for the next 20 years.

The legally mandated basic urban plan is usually established every five years under the National Land Planning Act, and the city has prepared this new plan as the time for revision has arrived.

In particular, this plan focuses on the daily living spaces of citizens to improve their quality of life while placing greater emphasis on strengthening Seoul's urban competitiveness.

Seoul City presents the future vision for the next 20 years as ‘My Livable Seoul, Everyone’s Seoul in the World,’ incorporating seven major goals, sectoral strategic plans, spatial plans, and regional plans to realize this vision.

The seven major goals, which represent the direction of Seoul’s urban spatial policy, are ① Creating pedestrian daily life zones ② Reorganizing waterfront-centered spaces ③ Three-dimensional infrastructure ④ Expanding central functions ⑤ Expanding future transportation infrastructure ⑥ Creating a carbon-neutral safe city ⑦ A major transformation in urban planning.

Above all, this plan emphasizes a shift from rigid and uniform urban planning regulations to a flexible urban planning system that can accommodate various future urban forms.

First, in response to the digital transformation era characterized by the disappearance of spatial boundaries such as residential and office areas and a lifestyle centered on ‘me,’ the concept of ‘pedestrian daily life zones’ has been newly introduced. The plan aims to completely reorganize daily spaces primarily for residential use, creating areas across Seoul where residents can enjoy housing, jobs, and leisure all within a 30-minute walk.

Notably, the 35-story height limit, which was previously applied as a uniform and absolute numerical standard, has been boldly removed and replaced with qualitative skyline management that considers local conditions. A Seoul city official said, "We expect that more diverse design proposals will emerge in apartment complexes and other redevelopment projects, and that creative urban landscapes will be created." Since the total floor area and floor area ratio will remain unchanged, the city anticipates that slender buildings will be spaced apart to secure ventilation corridors and realize diverse landscapes.

Additionally, the newly proposed ‘Beyond Zoning’ as a future urban management paradigm is another noteworthy change. Beyond Zoning refers to a flexible operation and management system that maintains the designated purposes of land use zones while promoting mixed-use land utilization such as residential, office, commercial, and leisure functions, considering regional characteristics for efficient use of urban space.

Seoul plans to lower barriers to changing land use zones and maximize the use of systems such as minimum regulation zones to create multifunctional complex areas that fit regional characteristics.

Since the plan was announced in March last year, Seoul City has undergone a process of gathering opinions through public hearings, consultations with related agencies, and hearings with the city council, completing all legal procedures with the urban planning committee’s review in November. The final plan will be announced on the 5th of this month, concluding the '2040 Seoul Basic Urban Plan' that has been in preparation since 2019.

Namjun Cho, Director of Seoul City’s Urban Planning Bureau, said, “The significance of the 2040 Seoul Basic Urban Plan is great in that it reflects rapid social and environmental changes and transitions to a flexible urban plan,” adding, “We hope this plan will serve as a blueprint guiding subordinate sectoral plans and redevelopment plans, playing a key role in improving the quality of life for Seoul citizens and enhancing urban competitiveness.”