On the 13th, Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy Chairperson Kim Jin-ae said, "I will devote myself to identifying and implementing national architecture policies that can enhance spatial democracy," and "I will work to innovate architecture-related systems and reset regulations so that various building types and new technologies can be utilized."
In particular, the Chairperson Kim stressed that, in the long term, architectural spatial cultural assets that fit cities must be revitalized. Kim, the Chairperson, said public architecture should not be approached as a means for local government heads to tout their achievements.
On the 13th in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the Chairperson Kim held a press briefing and said, "We will focus on spatial democracy that brings out the unique character of a space, that is, its authenticity."
The Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy is a presidential body that presents the vision and goals of national architecture policy and deliberates and coordinates the architecture policies of relevant ministries.
As one of the ways to realize such spatial democracy, the Chairperson Kim pointed to overhauling building regulations. Kim said, "We have been patching up building regulations made 70 to 80 years ago like a rag," and added, "We need to revise regulations to match the moment when new technologies and industries and culture emerge." The Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy is currently running a regulation-reset task force (TF).
The Chairperson Kim also said Kim is reviewing ways to raise the quality of public buildings in Korea. Asked how to create good public buildings, the Chairperson Kim answered, "Elect good local chiefs," and criticized, "There are too many buildings constructed to show off the chiefs' records."
The Chairperson Kim added, "There must first be sufficient deliberation on why the project should be done at this time and at this scale. There are not a few cases where, even after pouring a large budget into building facilities, operations afterward are not carried out properly."
The Chairperson Kim continued, "I said it half in jest, but we are considering this at the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy as well," adding, "There is no body that directs public architecture planning," and, "Public architecture should be planned as an asset. We will take a close look at this area."
On the controversy over dismantling Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the Chairperson Kim said it should be approached cautiously, regardless of whether DDP is being properly utilized.
The Chairperson Kim said, "DDP's project cost, initially 80 billion won, ultimately increased to 500 billion won," and added, "Compared with the expense put in, I question how much it contributed to revitalizing the Dongdaemun commercial district and whether the interior space is being properly utilized." Even so, the Chairperson Kim emphasized, "There are questions in terms of cost-effectiveness, but the issue of dismantling must be approached very cautiously."
Regarding the "urban block-type dwellings," cited as a way to supply housing in city centers, the Chairperson Kim said, "We prepared this over the past five months and have completed a report to the Blue House. Once a decision is made, the specific details will be disclosed."
Urban block-type dwellings group areas dense with single-family and multi-unit dwellings into blocks of a certain size and reorganize them into medium-density residential areas—in simple terms, they can be seen as having a character between apartments and low-rise apartment.
The Chairperson Kim said, "It was mentioned at the time of the supply plan under the name of urban dwellings, and if the tasks proposed by the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy are adopted, I expect it will become a policy that aligns with the Lee Jae-myung administration's multifamily housing policy and real estate intent."