Yongsan District Requests Inclusion of Hannam Prototype Apartment Reconstruction in Integrated Review

Reconstruction of Aging Apartments
Expected Improvements in Residential Environment

On May 16, Yongsan District Office in Seoul announced that on May 9 it had requested the inclusion of the 'Hannam Prototype Apartment' small-scale reconstruction and maintenance project, located at 1-349 Hannam-dong, in the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s integrated review for small-scale housing maintenance.

Aerial view of Hannam Prototype Apartment. Provided by Yongsan District Office.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s 'Integrated Review for Small-Scale Housing Maintenance' system was introduced to significantly shorten the existing review procedures of individual committees by conducting reviews in various fields such as architecture, urban planning, and landscape all at once. This system is expected to improve residential environments and simplify administrative procedures.

'Hannam Prototype Apartment' is one of the prototype apartments supplied in the 1970s as part of Seoul’s policy to stabilize housing for low-income residents, and it is now a deteriorated building that has been standing for over 50 years. Due to the aging of the structure and outdated facilities, concerns about safety accidents and the worsening residential environment have been continuously raised, making improvement through reconstruction an urgent issue.

The small-scale reconstruction project for Hannam Prototype Apartment began in earnest after obtaining approval for the establishment of an association in August 2020. During the process, the association considered incorporating part of an adjacent neighborhood park site, but reflecting the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s opinion that it could not be developed as a private apartment complex, the site was excluded and an application for integrated review was submitted in October last year.

This reconstruction project plans to create 120 apartment units and ancillary welfare facilities (with a total floor area of 20,549.75 square meters) in buildings ranging from four basement levels to five above-ground floors, following future implementation approvals. Through this, improvements in the deteriorated residential environment and urban aesthetics of the Hannam-dong area are anticipated.

Park Heeyoung, head of Yongsan District Office, stated, “Hannam Prototype Apartment has been the foundation of local residents’ lives for over 50 years, but due to aging, it is no longer possible to delay reconstruction from the perspectives of safety and residential environment. The district office will actively provide administrative support to improve the quality of life for residents.”