Jongno-gu Takes Measures to Protect Residential Rights in Bukchon Hanok Village

Focus on establishing measures for managing tourists and supporting residents in areas with high concerns of accelerated infringement on residential rights

Scheduled to complete the service by November after a residents' public hearing... Final announcement after collecting opinions from Seoul City and application and review by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Mun-heon) is initiating a 'Study on Designation of Special Management Areas and Establishment of Management Plans' in preparation for the gradually increasing tourism demand due to the full opening of the Blue House, easing of COVID-19, and the construction of the Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall in Songhyeon-dong.

The target area is within a 1km radius of the Blue House. It includes Bukchon Hanok Village, a famous spot visited by numerous domestic and international tourists and also a living space for residents.

In Jongno, complaints about noise, privacy invasion, and landscape damage caused by tourists in residential areas have been continuously raised. Various measures such as designating visiting hours and deploying dedicated personnel were implemented, but there were limitations due to the absence of higher-level legal authority, making enforcement difficult.

To establish a more robust response system beyond the community's own improvement efforts, Jongno-gu proposed a legislative amendment (Article 48-3 of the Tourism Promotion Act) to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to designate areas requiring protection of residential rights as 'Special Management Areas.'

As a result, in June 2020, a basis for designating special management areas was newly established in the Tourism Promotion Act, and in October of the same year, the necessary matters for designation were stipulated in the district ordinance, enabling the prompt implementation of systems for tourism industry promotion and management. In October last year, additional detailed necessary measures and support grounds under the Tourism Promotion Act were also achieved.

In April 2021, Jongno-gu designed detailed administrative procedures and diagnostic indicators for the designation of special management areas, and based on this, has been fully committed to the study and establishment of management plans since November 2022.

This study aims to establish a management system for areas where infringement on residential rights is expected to accelerate, enabling residents to lead stable lives by promoting ▲ regional status surveys and analysis ▲ feasibility and appropriateness review of diagnostic indicators ▲ designation of special management area zones ▲ establishment of management and support measures ▲ implementation of designation procedures.

In particular, it focuses on preparing measures for tourist management and resident support, with completion scheduled for November after residents' public hearings. Subsequently, after collecting opinions from Seoul City and application and review for designation as a special management area by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the designation will be finalized and announced.

District Mayor Jeong Mun-heon stated, “Bukchon is emerging as a central axis of the cultural tourism belt connected on foot with Seochon and Gwanghwamun due to the opening of the Blue House,” and added, “I hope that with the designation of a special management area, local residents and the tourism industry, who have had to endure numerous inconveniences at the boundary between tourist sites and residential areas, can coexist.”