Resolving Downtown Parking Shortages
Building Coverage Ratio Increased Up to 90%
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has eliminated the 'mandatory green space requirement' that previously applied to parking-only buildings in an effort to address the parking shortage in the city center.
On May 22, the city announced that it has revised and will immediately implement the 'Seoul Ecological Area Ratio Operation Guidelines' to this effect. The ecological area ratio is a system that requires a certain percentage of land to be secured as green spaces or areas capable of supporting natural circulation functions during development projects or construction.
Until now, public parking-only buildings were required to secure an ecological area ratio of 30%, regardless of whether they were part of an urban planning project, while private facilities were required to secure 20%. Due to these standards, there were criticisms that the actual number of parking spaces was reduced and it was difficult to meet building coverage ratios, preventing parking-only buildings from fully serving their intended function.
According to the Parking Lot Act, the building coverage ratio for parking-only buildings can be up to 90%. However, applying the ecological area ratio created conflicts between regulations, as it restricted the ability to maximize building coverage.
With this revision, it is now possible to secure a building coverage ratio of up to 90%, which is expected to increase the number of available parking spaces and provide other benefits.
Cho Namjun, Director of the Seoul Urban Space Headquarters, stated, "This revision of the ecological area ratio operation guidelines is a measure that considers the balance between ecological value preservation and practical usability. By reflecting the characteristics of parking-only buildings, it has improved the rationality of the system's operation."
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