Seoul City Launches Study on Relaxing Height Restrictions Around Gimpo Airport

Establishment of Airport Zone Development Master Plan by the Second Half of 2026
Proposal to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for Scope of 'Evaluation Surface' Application and Altitude Restriction Standards
Expansion of Task Force for Altitude Restriction Relaxation to Adjacent Local Governments

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is preparing measures to ease height restriction regulations around Gimpo Airport and revitalize urban maintenance in the airport zone.

An Asiana Airlines aircraft is taking off from Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 5th, Seoul announced that it will select a contractor for the "Airport Zone Height Restriction Easing and Development Plan Project" within this month and establish a master plan for the development of the airport zone by the second half of 2026.

Currently, areas near the airport including Gangseo, Yangcheon, Guro, and Geumcheon districts are subject to building height restrictions due to height limits imposed since the opening of Gimpo Airport. Approximately 80㎢ across these four districts are designated as "Obstacle Limitation Surfaces" under the Airport Facilities Act, with height restrictions ranging from 45 to 100 meters. These restricted surface areas are subject to international standards.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the ICAO headquarters last September to propose revisions to the international standards for airport height restrictions. Previously, ICAO has been working on revising airport height restrictions to balance airport safety and surrounding development.

The ICAO international standard revision proposal includes distinguishing the previously uniformly applied restricted surfaces (OLS) into Prohibited Surfaces (OFS) and Evaluated Surfaces (OES). The prohibited surface area will be reduced from the current 184㎢ to 35.2㎢, and the evaluated surface will allow for national discretion. ICAO plans to approve the revision in the first half of next year and aims for full implementation by November 2028.

In January, Seoul established the "Seoul Gimpo Airport Height Restriction Easing Task Force" for the first time, including local governments such as Gangseo and Yangcheon districts and experts, to explore ways to resolve regulations following the revision of international standards.

Through this project, Seoul plans to closely analyze Gimpo Airport’s flight procedures and airspace and propose to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport a reasonable scope of application and height restriction standards for the Evaluated Surfaces (OES) in the ICAO international standard revision, considering flight safety.

A master plan for the development of the airport zone, considering the newly applied Gimpo Airport obstacle limitation surfaces, will also be prepared. The master plan will mainly focus on easing building standards and supporting maintenance projects in aging residential areas that have been excluded from development due to airport height restrictions.

The plan will also reflect urban development strategies such as the concept of a specialized urban air mobility city linked with the Gimpo Airport Innovation District, introduction of new airport-related industries, and connection between the airport and existing industrial hubs.

Seoul plans to expand the height restriction easing task force to neighboring local governments such as Bucheon and Gimpo cities in Gyeonggi Province and Gyeyang District in Incheon, which are subject to Gimpo Airport obstacle limitation surfaces, to gather diverse opinions.

Additionally, once Seoul’s standard plan is prepared, a seminar with experts in flight procedures and navigation safety will be held to compile expert opinions and seek practical measures to ease height restrictions.

Jo Nam-jun, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Space Headquarters, said, "We will do our utmost to establish height restriction easing standards at the Seoul city level in line with ICAO’s international standard revisions and ensure early implementation at Gimpo Airport. Through the airport zone development master plan, we expect the Gimpo Airport area, which has been a development blind spot, to be reborn as a new economic hub in the southwest region."