Supply of 2,700 Housing Units Resumes After Permit Delays... One-Month Results of 'Fast-Track Support Center'

Two housing projects that had been stalled for several months due to confusion over legal interpretation have now returned to normal operations.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Architecture & Urban Research Institute announced on January 18 that, within about a month of the pilot operation of the "Fast-Track Permit Support Center," which was launched in November last year, they had resumed the permitting process for two housing projects in Uijeongbu and Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. With this support, the supply of a total of 2,700 housing units has been normalized, and project costs have been reduced by approximately 3 billion KRW.

Case of Resolving Differences in Legal Interpretation. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

At the Uijeongbu housing project site in Gyeonggi Province, there was a delay in project approval due to conflicting interpretations between the local government and the developer regarding the scope of fire compartmentalization. The Uijeongbu city government insisted that fire compartments should extend to the elevator hall's utility shaft for safety, while the developer argued that it was sufficient to seal only the pipe penetration areas. After reviewing the relevant department and blueprints, the Center issued an authoritative interpretation supporting the developer's view. As a result of this decision, the site was able to save about 1.5 billion KRW in redesign and financing costs and immediately proceed with the permitting process.

At the Uiwang redevelopment site in Gyeonggi Province, there was a conflict over payment obligations arising from the reduction in the area to be donated and surrendered. The Uiwang city government demanded additional payment for the shortfall, while the developer argued that the construction costs already incurred were the same. The Center resolved the dispute by directly calculating the shortfall in the donated and surrendered amount, which was about 1.3 billion KRW, based on the project implementation plan approval date, in accordance with relevant laws, and presented this calculation to both parties, leading to an agreement.

Case of mediation related to the shortage of donated and surrendered assets. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Kim Kyucheol, Director General for Housing and Land at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "This achievement is significant not only for solving issues in individual projects, but also for increasing predictability in the permitting process through cooperation among the central government, local governments, and the private sector, and for alleviating burdens on the ground. Based on the results of the pilot operation, we will quickly establish an institutional foundation."

Currently, a revision to the Real Estate Development Project Management Act, which provides the legal basis for establishing the support center, has been submitted to the National Assembly. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to officially launch the support center as soon as the legislation is completed.