Seoul City Recruiting Universities for 'Moa Housing·Moa Town University Cooperation Project'

Up to Eight Universities to Be Selected for Cooperation
Open to Universities Linking Fall Semester Courses
Selected Universities to Receive Up to 15 Million Won in Funding

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is recruiting universities to participate in the '3rd University Cooperation Moa Housing·Moa Town Project' until August 18.

This project links university courses with Seoul's 'Moa Town' policy, allowing students to identify actual project sites and propose creative design solutions. The city expects to gain innovative policy ideas, while students are provided with opportunities to gain practical experience.

'Moa Town' refers to a small-scale housing maintenance management area where groups of old, low-rise residential neighborhoods under 100,000 square meters, which are difficult to redevelop on a large scale, are gathered to establish a management plan and promote maintenance projects. By addressing chronic issues such as parking shortages in densely packed low-rise housing areas and preventing indiscriminate individual projects, it has received strong support from local residents.

This call for applications is open to all universities and graduate schools nationwide that can link the project to their fall semester curriculum. Individual applications by colleges within the same university are also allowed. Professors from architecture, urban planning, environmental studies, landscape architecture, or related departments who are interested in the project should prepare the required documents and submit them via email by August 18. Detailed information and application forms for this project can be found on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website under 'Moa Housing Moa Town' and 'Notices and Announcements.'

This year, the event period has been changed from the first half to the second half of the year to increase participation from universities that have not previously taken part. The city also plans to introduce remote evaluations to allow works to be judged without physical constraints, thereby boosting student participation. Previously, only one outstanding team per university had the opportunity to present and receive awards, but starting this year, all interested students can participate in a remote written evaluation, expanding award opportunities.

The city plans to select approximately eight universities through a document review. Each university may receive up to 15 million won in project implementation funding. Participating universities must submit a syllabus linking Moa Town to relevant courses such as 'Architectural Design' or 'Residential Complex Planning,' select a project site based on this, and carry out the project. After the course concludes, an awards ceremony will be held, with outstanding teams receiving the Mayor of Seoul Award, and the results will be showcased to the public through an exhibition.

Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "As public interest in the Moa Town project increases, I hope that more students will participate through this university project, propose creative ideas, and gain practical experience," adding, "We will actively support the realization of aspiring architects' potential and strive to positively influence policy as well."