Won Hee-ryong: "Progressive Review of Remodeling Load-Bearing Wall Demolition Within Safety Limits"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated on the 4th, "We plan to address the demolition of load-bearing walls and the activation of vertical extensions in remodeling within the scope of safety concerns."

On the afternoon of the 4th, the "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister's Resident Meeting on the Maintenance of Pyeongchon New Town" is being held at the Lifelong Education Center in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

On the same day, Minister Won met with residents of Pyeongchon New Town at the Lifelong Education Center in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, saying, "We will review with experts and the vast majority of the public the extent to which load-bearing wall demolition can be done safely and accepted."

Pyeongchon is actively promoting remodeling projects. Out of 54 complexes, 26 have embarked on remodeling. Only one, Daewoo Seon-gyeong Apartment in Mokryeon Village 2 Complex, has received project plan approval, but the number of remodeling projects is higher than in other first-generation new towns due to an already high average floor area ratio of 204%, relatively fewer regulations, and shorter required time compared to reconstruction.

However, since the proposal of the "Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aged Planned Cities" (hereinafter referred to as the Special Act) in March this year, residents' opinions have been divided. Voices advocating a return to reconstruction are growing. A resident who has lived in Hangaram Village for over 30 years said, "When asked why residents chose remodeling, they answer 'because reconstruction takes longer.' Look at Eunma Apartment in Daechi-dong, Seoul," adding, "But with the Special Act, hope for reconstruction has emerged."

A representative of the Pyeongchon Reconstruction Union also urged, "Please establish maintenance plans that allow reconstruction worthy of the meaning of 'space recreation,' not remodeling that only changes the appearance while retaining 30-year-old structures and infrastructure."

In response, Lee Hyung-wook, president of the Pyeongchon Multi-family Housing Remodeling Union, emphasized that the government should ease remodeling-related regulations to prevent conflicts among neighbors. Lee, who is also the chairman of the remodeling association of Mokryeon 2 Complex, said, "We have been promoting remodeling projects for 15 years. At that time, reconstruction faced many restrictions due to rampant speculation," adding, "Suddenly trying to do reconstruction in a short time causes conflicts."

There were also opinions requesting that if demolition of load-bearing walls related to remodeling is not allowed, at least 1:1 reconstruction should be possible through zoning upgrades (from Type 2 to Type 3). A resident of Mokryeon 2 Complex said, "Because the floor area cannot be increased due to load-bearing walls, houses have to be widened front and back, making the interiors dark," and asked, "Please consider this so that quality of life can improve."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to resolve the issue through the enactment of the Special Act. Moon Sung-yo, Director of the Land and Urban Office at the Ministry, said, "Pyeongchon New Town is grouped as a single district unit plan, making it practically difficult to increase floor area ratio, but the Special Act will solve this," adding, "We are also looking into load-bearing wall demolition and vertical extension."

Minister Won said, "If the policy had been consistently and steadily implemented, there would have been no need to debate which is better between reconstruction and remodeling. I apologize," and added, "We will review this as proactively as possible."

He continued, "The Special Act is scheduled for full parliamentary review, and since there are no major issues between the ruling and opposition parties, I hope it will be settled before the summer vacation period ends," and added, "Residents should cooperate in a way that benefits everyone and demonstrate strong autonomous capabilities."