'Gangbuk Remodeling's Biggest Prize' Namsan Town Nears Union Establishment After Many Trials

Integrated Promotion Committee to Hold Union Establishment General Meeting on the 28th
Construction Company Selection Next Year... Major Builders Eyeing
Seoul City's Strengthened Remodeling Regulations Pose Obstacle

'The largest remodeling project in the Gangbuk area,' Namsan Town in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, is on the verge of establishing a union after numerous twists and turns. Selected as a Seoul-type remodeling pilot complex in 2018, the project was halted for five years due to resident conflicts. However, with the launch of the integrated promotion committee earlier this year, the project is gaining momentum. As the selection of a construction company for this mammoth project in the heart of Seoul approaches, major construction firms are fiercely competing behind the scenes. Nonetheless, the recent trend of the Seoul Metropolitan Government tightening remodeling regulations based on safety concerns remains a significant hurdle.

According to the maintenance industry on the 12th, the Namsan Town Remodeling Integrated Promotion Committee will hold its inaugural general meeting for union establishment on the 28th at Megabox Dongdaemun. Completed in 2002, Namsan Town is the largest remodeling complex in the Gangbuk area. Out of a total of 42 buildings and 5,150 households, 35 buildings with 3,116 households, excluding rental buildings owned by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are subject to remodeling.

Namsan Town seemed to be progressing smoothly after being selected as the first pilot complex for the 'Seoul-type remodeling' introduced by Seoul City in 2018. However, the project was delayed due to conflicts between the 'Seoul-type promotion committee' and the 'resident-led promotion committee.' Among the six pilot complexes selected at the time (Namsan Town, Munjeong Siyeong and Munjeong Geonyeong in Songpa-gu, Gildong Woosung 2nd in Gangdong-gu, Sindorim Woosung 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Guro-gu), Namsan Town is the only one that has yet to establish a union.

Fortunately, conflicts were resolved earlier this year with the launch of the integrated promotion committee, and remodeling efforts have since accelerated. Having secured the required 66.7% consent rate for union establishment, the project is now on the brink of union formation after five years of progress. A representative of the Namsan Town Remodeling Integrated Promotion Committee stated, "We will apply for union establishment shortly after the general meeting and select a construction company in the first half of next year."

The integrated promotion committee plans to increase the number of households by a total of 467 through vertical expansion of 309 units and separate building expansion of 158 units. The project cost is expected to exceed 1 trillion won.

Namsan Town is a double-station complex near Vertigo-gaeg Station on Subway Line 6 and Yaksu Station on Lines 3 and 6, offering excellent accessibility to Gangnam and Gwanghwamun.

With such a large-scale and well-located remodeling project emerging, major construction companies like POSCO and SK Ecoplant are competing behind the scenes to be selected as the construction firm. In particular, SK Ecoplant (formerly SK Construction) has expressed a strong desire to win the contract, stating that since SK Construction originally built Namsan Town, they intend to fulfill their responsibility through remodeling.

However, the recent frequent construction safety accidents have led the Seoul Metropolitan Government to strengthen regulations on remodeling, posing an obstacle to all projects. This is a different atmosphere compared to when former Mayor Park Won-soon was in office and remodeling policies were being reinforced.

According to the recently announced '2030 Seoul Metropolitan City Apartment Remodeling Basic Plan,' horizontal expansions, which previously only required a first-phase safety inspection, will now require a second-phase safety inspection similar to vertical expansions. Additionally, to prevent obstruction of views and inconvenience in passage caused by remodeling expansions, infrastructure must be improved, and facilities must be opened to the public to enhance public interest.

An industry insider said, "Mayor Oh Se-hoon is promoting reconstruction and Moa Town projects while imposing regulations and suppression measures on remodeling. While emphasizing safety is natural, complexes that have no choice but to remodel should not be marginalized."