Seoul Designates Teheran-ro as Remodeling Activation Zone... "30% More Office Space Without Demolition" [Real Estate AtoZ]

Designated Area Spans from Gangnam Station Intersection to POSCO Intersection
950,000 Square Meters to Meet Office Demand

Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has designated the Gangnam business district as a "Remodeling Activation Zone," initiating a development approach that allows for reinforcement and expansion of existing buildings without demolition. Through structural reinforcement, it is expected that office space can be expanded by up to 30% compared to the current capacity.

On December 24, the city announced that the 18th Architecture Committee had approved the designation of the Teheran-ro Remodeling Activation Zone. In addition, reviews were passed for the construction of a mixed-use facility and public office building at 48 Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu; the development of Najin Shopping Center Buildings 12·13 in Yongsan; the development of a mixed-use site at the Seobu Truck Terminal in Yangcheon-gu; and the long-term public rental housing project near Sangdo Station in Dongjak-gu.

The designation of the Teheran-ro Remodeling Activation Zone in Gangnam-gu is expected to enhance urban functions through remodeling. The area has seen a continuous increase in demand for office space and ongoing calls to improve aging office facilities. The designated section for the Remodeling Activation Zone spans approximately 950,000 square meters, from Gangnam Station Intersection to POSCO Intersection. Incentives such as enhanced structural safety, vertical expansion, and relaxed floor area ratios will be applied to office facilities that have been in use for over 15 years, enabling phased implementation of eco-friendly and structural safety remodeling of aging buildings.

Within the Remodeling Activation Zone, expansions of up to 30% of the existing total floor area will be permitted, provided structural safety is ensured. The city plans to expand insufficient office space and respond to demand for modern office facilities through vertical expansion and relaxed restrictions on the number of floors and building height. Through this project, the city aims to address the shortage of office facilities in the urban core, while expecting carbon reduction, resource savings, and enhanced urban landscape continuity by promoting remodeling instead of demolition.

This decision will also bring a mixed-use facility to a key transportation hub near Godeok Station on Subway Line 5 and the planned extension of Line 9 in Myeongil-dong. The facility will comprise 32 above-ground floors and 7 basement levels, featuring 361 officetel units, retail spaces, neighborhood living facilities, and a public office building within a mixed-use tower.

Taking into account the characteristics of the mixed-use facility, independent entrances and circulation plans will be implemented for each use, and the officetel units will feature balconies and cross-ventilation structures to enhance residential comfort and convenience. A plaza-type open space will be created in connection with adjacent public parking lots and plazas, and the separately planned public office building will improve accessibility for residents, serving as a hub for administration and community exchange.

The area around Najin Shopping Center Buildings 12·13 in Yongsan will be developed as an innovation hub for the electronics market, combining new industry-focused office facilities with residential and retail spaces. The development will comprise 27 above-ground floors and 8 basement levels, offering approximately 33,000 square meters of office space, 88 officetel units, as well as retail and sports facilities.

An elevated public pedestrian passage will connect the Yongsan International Business District, the electronics market, and Yongsan Station, improving pedestrian circulation and promoting the revitalization of the new industry-focused area in conjunction with the commercial district around the electronics market.

The Seobu Truck Terminal in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, will be reborn as an urban high-tech logistics complex spanning approximately 560,000 square meters. The complex will feature 15 above-ground floors and 7 basement levels, comprising about 280,000 square meters of logistics facilities, 190,000 square meters of retail space, around 180 officetel units, and sports and cultural facilities.

Logistics facilities will be concentrated underground, while open spaces and living infrastructure will be placed above ground, fostering the area as a leading high-tech logistics and lifestyle complex in southwestern Seoul. The redevelopment will be carried out in a way that maintains existing logistics functions while significantly expanding living infrastructure.

Additionally, a total of 1,084 public housing units (including 272 public rental units) will be supplied in a transit-oriented development around Sangdo Station, comprising 42 above-ground floors and 5 basement levels.

Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "The approval by the Architecture Committee is significant in that it presents a new direction for urban renewal by moving away from demolition-focused development and instead enhancing urban functions by utilizing existing architectural assets through the designation of the Teheran-ro Remodeling Activation Zone. Strengthening seismic safety, improving energy efficiency, and expanding office space through remodeling will further reinforce Gangnam’s role as a hub for business exchange in the city center."