Incheon City Seeks Measures to Secure Total Quota for Development Restriction Zone Release

Incheon City is exploring various measures to secure the total amount of development-restricted areas that can be released.

According to the city on the 26th, Incheon's development-restricted areas are located within the urban center, causing the region to be divided along east-west and north-south axes. Major station areas such as Gyeyang Station are situated within these restricted zones, making efficient spatial management difficult. Additionally, securing releasable total amounts is necessary to address local issues such as the comprehensive development plan for the northern area and the relocation project of military units within the city center.

However, the releasable total amount of 9.1㎢ reflected in the '2020 Metropolitan Area Urban Plan' has been used as 7.1㎢ for national projects such as public rental housing and the Asian Games, and the remaining 2㎢ has been utilized for policy projects (local issues) such as market modernization and industrial complex development, resulting in the complete exhaustion of the releasable total amount of development-restricted areas.

Major station areas are located within the development restriction zone. [Provided by Incheon City]

Accordingly, Incheon City plans to review the current status and possible adjustment areas of development-restricted zones through the ongoing 'Incheon Green Axis Management and Urban Management Plan Amendment Service' to secure the exhausted releasable total amount.

At the same time, the city is proposing to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport amendments to the metropolitan urban planning establishment guidelines and the enforcement decree of the Development-Restricted Areas Act, including provisions such as 'exceptional application of releasable total amounts for military unit relocation projects within the city center' and 'delegation of designation authority for development-restricted areas under 1 million square meters to city and provincial governors.'

Currently, military unit relocation projects within the city center are only possible within the releasable total amount, and the authority to designate development-restricted areas lies with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which the city explains causes difficulties in managing development-restricted areas.

An official from Incheon City stated, "On the 19th, we held a forum to discuss the issues of development-restricted areas and the need for institutional improvements with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, the Incheon Research Institute, and academic experts," adding, "We are focusing on finding the best measures by continuously consulting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to secure releasable total amounts."