Seoul is moving to ease regulations, including expanding commercial zones and relaxing public contribution requirements, to spur high-density, mixed-use redevelopment around subway stations and speed up balanced urban development.
The Seoul city government said on the 5th that, as a follow-up to its station-area "work-live-play activation" strategy, it will apply related operating standards starting this month to ease development regulations. The plan is to turn areas around subway stations across Seoul into spaces that combine housing, culture, and living infrastructure by 2031.
First, the scope for upgrading land-use zones will expand from the existing 153 central station areas to all 325 station areas citywide. As a result, non-central areas will also be able to be upgraded from neighborhood commercial or quasi-residential zones to general commercial zones, improving development conditions.
Through this, the Seoul city government expects to lay the groundwork for mixed-use development even in relatively slow-to-develop areas such as Gangbuk and the southwest, helping to narrow regional gaps.
The burden of public contributions to stimulate projects will also be reduced. Previously, 50% of the added floor area ratio was recouped as a public contribution, but going forward it will be eased to about 30%. The measure applies to 11 districts where officially assessed land prices are 60% or less of the Seoul average—Eunpyeong, Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Dobong, Nowon, Gangseo, Guro, and Geumcheon—and will be reflected in existing projects as well as new ones.
Ahn Dae-hee, head of the Seoul Urban Space Headquarters, said, "We will enhance project execution by expanding commercial zones and easing public contributions, and spread station-area-based living hubs across Seoul."