Yeongdeungpo-gu, Commercial Area Non-Residential Ratio Relaxation to Expand Housing Supply

Seoul City Urban Planning Ordinance Amendment: Non-Residential Ratio in Residential-Commercial Complex Buildings Reduced from 20% to 10%
Result of Persistent Efforts Including Resident Feedback on Yeouido Reconstruction and Meetings with District Mayor and Vice Mayor
Expansion of Housing Supply to Alleviate Poor Housing Conditions and Housing Shortage for 10 Million Seoul Citizens

Yeouido Reconstruction Resident Meeting

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that the proposals submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Government for accelerating redevelopment projects have borne fruit, raising expectations for the expansion of housing supply near workplaces and the rise of a new premium residential complex in the southwestern region.

On the 26th of last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed the “Partial Amendment to the Seoul Metropolitan Urban Planning Ordinance,” which includes provisions to relax the ‘non-residential ratio’ used for non-residential purposes in residential-commercial mixed-use buildings within commercial areas from 20% to 10%.

As a result, the mandatory non-residential ratio for reconstruction in commercial areas has been eased, resolving the issue of ‘unsold and vacant apartment commercial spaces’ that had hindered redevelopment efforts.

This reflects the incorporation of the district’s proposals to the Seoul Metropolitan Government aimed at the swift advancement of the stalled Yeouido reconstruction project, which had been delayed due to various regulations.

Lowering the non-residential ratio increases the residential area, thereby boosting housing supply and improving project feasibility. This helps stabilize the housing market and reduces risks such as economic downturns caused by vacant commercial spaces, giving redevelopment projects new momentum.

Yeouido, a representative reconstruction area, has many aging apartments built 40 to 50 years ago. However, reconstruction has been blocked by overlapping regulations and redevelopment controversies, leading to continuous demands from Yeouido residents for countermeasures.

In response, the district organized ‘Yeouido Reconstruction Resident Meetings’ to directly hear residents’ opinions and identify current issues in reconstruction projects, seeking concrete solutions. Based on this, the district has continuously conveyed opinions to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the decision-maker for reconstruction plans, including ▲relaxation of excessive non-residential ratios in commercial areas and ▲adjustment of donation weight factors. District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon also held direct meetings with the Seoul Deputy Mayor, working on multiple fronts to devise solutions.

This amendment to the “Seoul Metropolitan Urban Planning Ordinance” is the result of the district’s determination to promptly and actively resolve issues and the efforts of Do Mun-yeol, Chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Urban Planning and Balance Committee. This opens the way for expanding housing supply, alleviating the housing shortage for 10 million Seoul citizens, and improving poor residential environments. Furthermore, with redevelopment projects unblocked, Yeongdeungpo is set to be reborn as a premium residential area near workplaces, enhanced with green spaces and convenience facilities.

In fact, a total of 13 redevelopment projects, including Yeouido reconstruction, are expected to benefit from this ordinance. For example, the A Apartment reconstruction will see an increase of 70 sale units, and the B Apartment reconstruction will gain 74 additional sale units, enhancing project feasibility.

Yang, the chairman of the Yeouido Samik Apartment Reconstruction Operations Committee, expressed his expectations, saying, “With the relaxation of the non-residential ratio through this ordinance amendment, the feasibility of the ongoing reconstruction projects will increase.”

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “With this ordinance amendment, the issue of the non-residential ratio in commercial areas, which had been one of the obstacles to the Yeouido reconstruction project, has been resolved. Please look forward to Yeouido’s transformation into a genuine premium residential complex near workplaces.” He added, “We will continue to focus all administrative efforts to ensure that local characteristics and residents’ demands are reflected for the swift progress of redevelopment projects.”