Permissible Floor Area Ratio for Main Commercial Area Raised to 660%
Abolition of Maximum Development Scale Plan... Encouraging Joint Development
The district unit plan for the Yulgok-ro area, located between Dongdaemun Station and Hyehwa Station on Line 4, will be reorganized for the first time in 17 years.
On the 10th, Seoul City announced that the 'Yulgok-ro District Unit Plan Decision (Amendment) (Draft)' was approved with modifications at the 6th Urban and Architectural Joint Committee.
The project site is adjacent to major roads such as Daehak-ro and Yulgok-ro, and to the south, it is near Jongno 5-ga Station on Line 1 and Dongdaemun Station, a transfer station for Lines 1 and 4, making it an area with excellent public transportation accessibility. It is also close to cultural heritage sites such as Jongmyo Shrine and Changgyeonggung Palace.
This district unit plan has been reorganized for the first time in 17 years since 2008, reflecting local conditions and policy changes. It incorporates the revised floor area ratio (FAR) system from last year’s district unit plan amendment and improvements to the height planning system following the 2023 Seoul Downtown Basic Plan reorganization.
Reflecting the FAR system revision, the standard FAR for the arterial general commercial area was raised from 400% to 600%. The allowable FAR was significantly increased from 600% to 660%. For the rear general commercial area, the standard FAR was raised from 400% to 500%, and the allowable FAR from 500% to 550%.
The maximum height plan was converted to a base height-relaxed height system, and an incentive operation plan aligned with the area's characteristics and Seoul City’s policy direction was also prepared.
To revitalize the area, the maximum development scale plan set by block units was abolished, and joint development regulations were relaxed to encourage landowners to pursue flexible joint development. For parcels below the minimum development scale, operational standards were eased to allow construction after review by the district’s Urban and Architectural Joint Committee.
Additionally, guidelines for improving the streetscape linked to historical assets were established for specialized streets such as those near Jongmyo Shrine, old roads, and old waterways.
Jo Nam-jun, Director of Seoul City’s Urban Space Headquarters, said, "Through this reorganization of the Yulgok-ro district unit plan, we expect to secure development momentum in an area that has been somewhat stagnant despite being in the heart of Seoul, and to restore vitality befitting the status of downtown Seoul."
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