Education and Consulting to Strengthen
Collective Building Management Capabilities in Seoul
On June 8, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will implement the “Support for Operation of Collective Building Management Associations” to strengthen management capabilities for officetels, commercial buildings, and multi-family housing complexes with fewer than 150 households, which are currently in a blind spot when it comes to collective building management.
When the management association is not properly operated, such as failing to appoint a manager or establish management regulations, problems can arise such as excessive management fees, inappropriate selection of management companies, and neglect of common area maintenance. The city is launching this support program to reduce harm to vulnerable residents and provide on-site, practical solutions.
On June 25, Seoul will conduct a “Seoul Collective Building Management Association Meeting Simulation Training” for all applicants, including management association executives. The training will cover essential topics for actual operation, such as procedures for convening and passing resolutions at association meetings, and methods for forming the management association.
Afterward, complexes selected as support recipients will receive one to three rounds of consultation starting in July, with experts such as professors, lawyers, and housing managers. These consultations will cover holding association meetings, appointing managers, and establishing or amending regulations. Ongoing post-support will be provided through online real-time consultations, satisfaction surveys, and the distribution of operational guidebooks.
Eligible applicants include officetels, commercial buildings, and apartment complexes with fewer than 150 households that fall under the “Act on Ownership and Management of Aggregate Buildings.” Only managers, sectional owners, or occupants may apply through the Seoul Collective Building Information Portal. Apartment complexes with 150 or more households are subject to the separate “Multi-Family Housing Management Act” and are therefore excluded from eligibility.
In 2024, the city provided support for collective building management associations by offering 35 on-site consultations and 594 remote consultations to 80 complexes.
Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “For officetels and commercial buildings, autonomous operation of the management association is extremely important to prevent harm to residents. Through this program, we will provide education and operational consulting to collective building management associations that lack information and practical skills, thereby strengthening their capacity for self-governance.”
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