[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] This year, a 'Public Hanok Global Lounge' will be established in the Bukchon and Seochon Hanok Villages. Additionally, over the next 10 years, 10 Hanok villages will be developed across Seoul. The review criteria for Hanok construction will be significantly relaxed or abolished, and incentive measures will be introduced to provide up to 20% additional support for construction costs.
Seoul City announced on the 14th that it has established the long-term comprehensive plan for Hanok policy, ‘Seoul Hanok 4.0 Re-creation,’ and will begin full-scale implementation starting this year.
Expanding the ‘Concept of Hanok’... Relaxing Review Criteria and Strengthening Incentives
‘Seoul Hanok 4.0 Re-creation’ is a policy aimed at enhancing Seoul’s urban competitiveness through Hanok. The main points include ▲expanding the concept of Hanok ▲relaxing review criteria ▲strengthening incentives.
First, to encourage creative Hanok designs, the concept of Hanok will be expanded. The traditional definition limited to ‘Hanok buildings’ will be broadened to include ‘Hanok architectural styles’ and ‘Hanok design buildings’ that incorporate modern materials and technologies, supporting the creation of more diverse and distinctive Hanok. Furthermore, commercial Hanok, which have been difficult to receive support for construction and repair until now, and Hanok combining modern structures and materials will be eligible for support under the ‘Hanok architectural style’ category as long as they meet the minimum essential criteria.
Review criteria will also be relaxed. Of the existing 73 items under the ‘Hanok Construction Review Criteria,’ 44 items will be either relaxed or abolished. Thirty-three criteria related to structure, windows, roof tiles, eaves length, upper yard structures, yard height differences, etc., will be relaxed. Eleven criteria concerning furniture arrangement, window frames, gates, and others will be abolished. To this end, the cost support review criteria will be revised and immediately implemented by the end of this month. The city aims to revise the municipal ordinance by July.
Incentives will be strengthened as well. Hanok that preserve traditional construction methods, spatial arrangements, Korean-style windows, wooden structures, street and roofscape will receive additional incentives of up to 20% of construction costs.
Actively Creating ‘Hanok Villages in Nature’... Also Establishing a ‘Public Hanok Global Lounge’
The city formulated this plan because modern Hanok or contemporary architecture reinterpreting Hanok has recently emerged. Therefore, a policy shift and approach reflecting user convenience and preferences toward modern Hanok and Hanok design are deemed necessary.
Seoul City stated that it collected opinions from experts and residents over the past year to revitalize modern Hanok. Accordingly, the plan reflects the need for ▲regulatory relaxation for creative design ▲discovery of Hanok value elements ▲landscape management and creation of new Hanok villages suited to regional characteristics ▲and the spread of Hanok and Korean residential culture.
Over the next 10 years, 10 Hanok villages will be developed within Seoul. New Hanok villages will expand beyond existing urban Hanok villages such as Bukchon and Eunpyeong Hanok Village to areas currently lacking Hanok. The plan includes utilizing park release zones and damaged greenbelt areas through district-level competitions. The development of Hanok villages will be promoted through public development methods involving SH Corporation, and construction support will also be provided for some public-purpose buildings such as nursing homes, senior facilities, and art museums.
This year, a ‘Public Hanok Global Lounge’ will be established in the Bukchon and Seochon Hanok Villages to allow foreign visitors to experience Hanok and residential culture. The global lounge will provide information related to Hanok and offer experiential programs such as tea ceremonies and pottery. It will also feature interior showroom exhibitions of Hanok furniture, lighting, and crafts.
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