[Special Measures for Regional Extinction] Floor Area Ratio Relaxed for Facility Construction... Opening 'Boat Routes' to Isolated Islands

Floor Area Ratio and Building Coverage Ratio Relaxed Up to 1.2 Times
Small Library Installation Standard Reduced to '500 Books'
Special Provisions for 'Accessibility' Introduced in Remote Areas

A special exemption will be established to relax building coverage ratio and floor area ratio when facilities that can improve residential conditions are constructed in population decline areas. For island areas vulnerable to accessibility due to physical distance, the standards for opening new routes will be eased.

The government announced 26 measures to expand regulatory exemptions for population decline areas on the 18th, focusing on "tasks that citizens can feel." These tasks consist of practical benefits for residents, such as improving living conditions, rather than corporate tax cuts or large-scale development projects.

First, when promoting extinction response projects such as comprehensive medical facilities and sports facilities in population decline areas, the building coverage ratio and floor area ratio of buildings will be relaxed up to 1.2 times. Until now, there were no separate exemptions related to building coverage ratio and floor area ratio in population decline areas, and this is newly established with the intention of encouraging the construction of facilities that can improve residential conditions.

Lim Cheol-eon, Director General of the Balanced Development Support Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is speaking at a joint briefing with related ministries on expanding regulatory exceptions for population decline areas at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

In accordance with the characteristics of population decline areas where library use is more difficult than in other areas, the installation standards for encouraging the establishment of "small libraries" will also be relaxed. Currently, establishing a small library requires at least 1,000 books or more, but in population decline areas, the installation standards will be recognized if at least half of that amount is held.

Special exemptions for improving accessibility will be created for island areas with declining populations. Previously, there were limitations in quickly opening new routes in isolated island areas because appropriate waiting facilities and ticket offices had to be equipped at ferry terminals. Accordingly, the government decided to allow isolated island areas to open new routes first if there is no hindrance to risk prevention, and waiting facilities or ticket offices can be secured later. Also, when residents of population decline island areas transport vehicles by ship, costs were previously supported only for inner harbor passenger ships, but now vehicle loading costs on "cargo ships" will also be supported.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will also award 2 bonus points to local governments in population decline areas when designating the "Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project." This project improves living conditions such as housing and safety to ensure a minimum quality of life for residents in vulnerable areas. This exemption is newly established based on the perception that the special characteristics of population decline areas have been insufficiently considered.

Measures to attract tourists in addition to existing residents have also been prepared. To actively establish unique "resort condominiums" that reflect local characteristics on a small scale, the room requirement will be relaxed from 30 rooms or more to 20 rooms or more.

Although the government plans to implement the exemptions as quickly as possible, actual field application is expected to take place at least next year. Among the 26 tasks announced on this day, 15 require legal amendments. Relaxation of floor area ratio and building coverage ratio, relaxation of small library installation standards, special exemptions for opening new routes, and support for loading costs are all matters requiring amendment of the "Special Act on Support for Population Decline Areas," and the government plans to submit the amendment bill to the National Assembly in December this year.

Im Cheol-eon, Director of the Balanced Development Support Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "For the remaining 11 tasks, we will promptly handle those that can be done by revising presidential decrees or regulations. For matters requiring legal amendments, if a significant portion is collectively included in the Special Act on Support for Population Decline Areas, I believe it will be possible to promptly promote legal amendments."