Real Estate Development Association Announces Relaunch as 'Korea Developer Association'

20th Anniversary Event Held
Kushner, Mori Building, and EDGE in Attendance
New CI Unveiled and Research Institute Officially Launched

The Korea Real Estate Development Association (KODA) is changing its name back to its original founding title, the "Korea Developer Association," in celebration of its 20th anniversary. This move reflects a strong determination to return to its roots and redefine the role of developers, aiming to overcome the structural downturn currently affecting the industry, including the crisis in real estate project financing (PF).

On November 20, at a hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Chairman Seungbae Kim addressed over 1,000 domestic and international developer representatives during the association's 20th anniversary event, "A.N.D 20 (All New Developer Project 20)." He stated, "Our industry is once again facing a harsh winter due to high interest rates, market uncertainty, and the ongoing real estate PF issues."

Chairman Kim emphasized, "This is not just a cyclical downturn, but a fundamental structural shift in the industry's paradigm. This event is not simply a celebration of the past 20 years, but a commitment to a new leap forward for the next 20 years."

Seungbae Kim, Chairman of the Korea Developer Association, is delivering the opening speech at the 20th anniversary event "A.N.D 20 (ALL NEW DEVELOPER PROJECT 20)" held on the 20th at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Korea Developer Association

He continued, "Developers must now redefine their roles, not merely as creators of space, but as an industry that designs social value and the lives of future generations. To earn the trust of the next generation, we will prioritize strengthening responsibility and ethics." He identified sustainability, public interest, digital innovation, and global competitiveness as core values.

To overcome the crisis and pledge a new leap forward, the association has adopted the slogan "All New Developer (A.N.D)" and unveiled a new corporate identity (CI). Created in collaboration with world-renowned creative director Park Youngha, the new CI is designed in the shape of a Taegeuk symbol, representing Korea. It symbolizes the circulation, coexistence, and mutual prosperity of cities and nature, architecture and people.

The event also included an official announcement of the name change and an international conference aimed at strengthening global competitiveness. Leading developer companies from around the world, including Kushner Companies (USA), Mori Building (Japan), and EDGE (Netherlands), participated to share their respective urban development strategies.

Moon Joohyun, Chairman of MDM Group and a keynote speaker, remarked, "As cities face structural changes, the role of the development industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated."

Chairman Moon highlighted issues such as population aging, the rise of single-person households, and regional decline, diagnosing that the "compact city"-which organically integrates urban functions such as residential, work, commercial, cultural, and educational spaces-will become the new standard.

He compared developers to "conductors of an orchestra," meaning they are not simply construction orderers, but key players who coordinate the interests of both the public and private sectors.

On the 20th, the morning session of the 20th anniversary event of the Korea Developer Association featured a panel discussion titled "Korea Developer: Leap Toward the Next 100 Years." Korea Developer Association

The "Korea Real Estate Development Industry Institute (KREDII)," which will serve as the association's think tank, was also officially launched at the event. Chairman Kim was appointed as the first president of the institute, and Chairman Moon was named chairman of the board. The institute plans to propose scientific policy alternatives through research on public-private partnership development models and data-driven market monitoring.

Hanmo Kim, head of the 20th Anniversary Project Group and chairman of HM Group, said, "The past six months of preparation have demonstrated the strength of our industry," adding, "This event marks the starting point for the Korean developer industry as it embarks on another 20 years."