Conditional Reconstruction Rejected by Moon Administration → Final Elimination
Nowon-gu Announces Bidding for Detailed Safety Inspection Service
New Complexes Reemerge Thanks to January Deregulation Measures
[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] The 39-year-old Taereung Woosung Apartment in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, is set to undergo its second detailed safety inspection for reconstruction. This apartment had conditionally passed the detailed safety inspection but ultimately failed during the Moon Jae-in administration due to stricter reconstruction regulations. Since the government significantly lowered the safety inspection threshold in January, complexes that previously faced setbacks in reconstruction are now making renewed attempts.
According to the maintenance industry on the 24th, Nowon-gu Office announced a bid on the 22nd for a detailed safety inspection service to determine the reconstruction status of Taereung Woosung. As a result, this apartment will soon undergo its second detailed safety inspection.
Built in 1985, Taereung Woosung has long exceeded the 30-year reconstruction eligibility period but saw its project stalled in July 2021. It received a conditional reconstruction judgment with a D grade in the first safety inspection but was ultimately rejected due to the barrier of the public institution’s second safety inspection (appropriateness review). This was because the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018 significantly increased the weight of structural safety in the safety inspection evaluation criteria from 20% to 50%, raising the reconstruction threshold.
However, the situation drastically changed when the government announced a rationalization plan for reconstruction safety inspections in January. The weight of structural safety was lowered from 50% to 30%, while the weight of residential environment increased from 15% to 30%. This means that even if the building can structurally endure longer, reconstruction will be permitted if residents experience significant inconvenience. Additionally, even if a conditional reconstruction judgment is received, the appropriateness review will be waived unless there are major defects.
As a result, the confidence of Taereung Woosung residents in reconstruction has grown. A representative from real estate agency A in Gongneung-dong said, "Taereung Woosung was built even earlier than the public housing apartments in Nowon-gu, but it was a big shock to be rejected for reconstruction," adding, "With the retry of the safety inspection, discussions about reconstruction will become more active among other aging apartments nearby."
Besides Taereung Woosung, complexes that received conditional reconstruction judgments but ultimately failed during the previous administration include Dongbu Green in Guro-gu (2019), Bulgwang Miseong in Eunpyeong-gu and Mokdong 9 Complex in Yangcheon-gu (2020), and Godeok Jugong 9 Complex in Gangdong-gu, Mokdong 11 Complex, and Gwangjang Geukdong in Gwangjin-gu (2021).
Among these, Bulgwang Miseong reattempted the safety inspection last year and passed the appropriateness review. Gwangjang Geukdong recently completed its detailed safety inspection application with Gwangjin-gu Office. Mokdong 9 Complex and Mokdong 11 Complex are currently collecting consent forms from residents for preliminary safety inspections. Complexes that fail the detailed safety inspection must start again from the preliminary safety inspection upon reattempt.
An industry insider said, "Because the government relaxes regulations, complexes need to make progress, so the number of complexes challenging the safety inspection has recently surged," but added, "However, due to the deep slump in the real estate market, even if they pass the safety inspection, it will not be easy to accelerate the project."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
