Reconstruction Projects in Mokdong Area on Track: "Massive Safety Inspection Passes"

Effect of Relaxed Safety Inspection Regulations on Reconstruction
Preparation of Maintenance Plans and Formation of Associations Ahead

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] The apartments in Mokdong New Town, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, managed by the CMS, have collectively passed the safety inspection, the first hurdle in the reconstruction project. This follows the government's recent significant relaxation of safety inspection regulations.

According to the maintenance industry on the 10th, Yangcheon-gu Office notified the safety inspection results the day before, changing the status from 'conditional reconstruction' to 'reconstruction' for Mokdong New Town complexes 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14, as well as Sinwol Siyeong Apartments.

The safety inspection, known as the first gateway of reconstruction projects, evaluates structural safety and facility aging to determine whether reconstruction is feasible. With the Mokdong apartments passing this inspection, they can now proceed with formal project steps such as establishing maintenance plans and forming associations.

These complexes, built in the 1980s and well beyond the 30-year reconstruction eligibility period, had been stalled due to tightened safety inspection regulations under the previous administration. However, the current government’s significant easing of these regulations has brought a turnaround to the projects.

Since the 5th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has implemented a 'Reconstruction Rationalization Plan' that lowers the weight of structural safety scores in safety inspections from 50% to 30%, while increasing the weights for residential environment and building finishing/facility aging from 15% to 30% and 25% to 30%, respectively. As a result, these complexes can now immediately proceed with reconstruction under the revised safety inspection criteria.

Accordingly, most complexes in Mokdong New Town are expected to become eligible for reconstruction. Complex 6 in Mokdong New Town has already passed the safety inspection, and complexes 9 and 11, which previously failed the final safety inspection, are now highly likely to pass thanks to the government’s regulatory easing.

A Yangcheon-gu Office official stated, "The Ministry of Land’s Reconstruction Rationalization Plan has been applied to complexes awaiting the second detailed safety inspection, enabling immediate reconstruction. This has put the reconstruction projects in the Mokdong area back on track."

Meanwhile, Sinwol Siyeong Apartments received a D grade (49.89 points), the conditional pass standard, in the first detailed safety inspection in November 2020. Mokdong New Town Complex 7 also received a D grade with 51.11 points in the first detailed safety inspection in November 2020. Complex 10 received a conditional reconstruction judgment with 50.04 points in the first detailed safety inspection in February 2021. Complex 14 received a D grade with 49.48 points in the first detailed safety inspection in February 2021 and was undergoing the next step of feasibility review.