Changwon Uichang and Seongsan Districts Drastically Change Through District Unit Reorganization

"We will completely change the paradigm of urban space."

On the 2nd, Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, made this statement while announcing the redevelopment plan for the hinterland district unit plan.

Mayor Hong personally explained the redevelopment plans for Uichang and Seongsan Districts on the day.

Changwon City plans to reorganize the districts focusing on deregulation, rational adjustment, and private-led development.

The redevelopment targets include 19 districts in the Uichang and Seongsan areas: 13 residential districts, 5 commercial districts, and 1 semi-industrial district.

Changwon City was established in 1974 as Korea's first planned city to support the Changwon National Industrial Complex.

At the time of establishment, residential areas were limited to single-family housing, and commercial areas were only permitted for office use. However, due to advances in construction technology, the explosive increase in one- and two-person households, and a shift in perception toward housing, voices emerged calling for changes to the district unit plan.

Changwon City explained that after establishing the district unit plan in 2002 and partially revising it in 2009 and 2017, it found the measures insufficient and thus completely overhauled the district unit plan to improve residential conditions and resolve parking difficulties.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is announcing the redevelopment plan for the Baehoodo City District Unit Plan.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Through this redevelopment, the city plans to allow zoning upgrades throughout residential areas, permit officetel use in quasi-residential areas, remove building height restrictions and relax floor area ratios in commercial areas, and allow the installation of research institutes and office facilities in semi-industrial areas.

Type 1 exclusive residential areas will be upgraded to Type 1 general residential areas to establish a living environment based on proximity between workplaces and residences.

The 13 large-scale residential districts will be subdivided into about 50 medium-scale living zone districts, and 30% of residential land will be allowed for apartment development within 10 floors.

In single-family housing areas, measures such as expanded lot consolidation, increased floor area ratio up to 120%, relaxed height restrictions to 3 floors, and allowance of external exposed staircases will be applied.

Neighborhood facilities such as retail stores and cafes, as well as multi-family housing construction, will also be permitted.

Near the Changwon International Shooting Range, conditions will be created to allow facilities where athletes can stay overnight.

In quasi-residential areas, restrictions on land consolidation will be removed, floor area ratios will be relaxed up to 500%, and officetel construction will be permitted.

In commercial areas, land consolidation and height restrictions will be removed, and floor area ratios will be expanded to encourage the construction of super-large and super-high-rise buildings.

Heliport installation will be mandatory for buildings above a certain size, and three-dimensional connecting streets and underground connecting passages between buildings will be allowed.

In semi-industrial areas, unreasonable restrictions preventing redevelopment of old existing buildings will be improved, and research institutes and office facilities will be additionally permitted on dormitory sites.

Spatial reorganization according to the mid- to long-term master plan for the Changwon National Industrial Complex is scheduled to be reflected in the first half of next year.

District Unit Plan Map of the Hinterland City Area, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. [Data provided by Changwon Special City Hall]

The redevelopment plan announced by the city on this day will be finalized and promulgated at the end of the year after resident briefings and public inspection this month, consultations with related organizations and departments, and reviews by the Traffic Impact Assessment and Urban Architecture Joint Committee in December.

For more details, please check the city website or contact the Urban Planning Division at City Hall.

Mayor Hong said, "Through a paradigm shift in urban space, we will boldly eliminate unnecessary regulations and lay the foundation for urban space that can guarantee sustainable growth for the next 50 years."

He added, "Although the old housing areas of former Masan and Jinhae are not part of this redevelopment plan as they are not hinterland areas, we plan to prepare redevelopment and reconstruction projects suitable for each area and reorganize those areas as well."