Residents of an apartment complex in front of Songjeong Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon, plan to file a damages suit against the developer, saying a new apartment building up to 17 stories tall directly in front of their complex has blocked most of their sea view. Gangneung City received 3.8 billion won in cash from the project owner during the construction process under the pretext of creating a public parking lot. Residents of the existing complex are pushing back, saying, "We are bearing the damage, but the public contribution could be spent in another area."
According to the real estate industry and residents of Songjeong Beach Shindo Bränew on the 23rd, owners of the apartment are moving to file a joint lawsuit against "Urban Design," the developer of "Gangneung Ocean City IPARK," which was built in front of the complex. A representative of the residents said, "We plan to sign a contract with a law firm soon and submit the complaint to the court."
Songjeong Beach Shindo Bränew is an eight-building, 737-household apartment complex established in 2005 at 289, Gyeonso-dong, Gangneung City. Some households had been able to look over Songjeong Beach and the East Sea beyond the complex, but residents say the construction of Gangneung Ocean City IPARK directly in front has blocked the sea view for many households.
Gangneung Ocean City IPARK was built across 15 buildings with two basement levels to 17 aboveground floors, totaling 794 households, at 244-2, Gyeonso-dong. IPARK Hyundai Development Company built it, and it received use approval on the 20th, with move-ins set to begin on the 25th. The project owner promoted the panoramic East Sea view available from some units at the time of sale as a key advantage.
The project site had long been used as farmland. Gangneung City changed the zoning in the area to allow multi-family dwellings and approved the housing construction project plan in July 2022. Residents of the existing complex protested from the project promotion stage, saying the two apartment complexes would be excessively close, but the project proceeded as planned.
The boundaries of the two complexes touch. The shortest distance between the Shindo Bränew complex boundary line and the IPARK building is about 6 meters, and the minimum distance between buildings of the two complexes is about 20 meters, according to Gangneung City. A Gangneung City official said, "We approved the project by applying setback distances, and standards related to daylighting and sunshine in accordance with the Building Act and the Gangneung City local government ordinance."
During construction, the developer provided support worth about 500 million won, including installing a parking barrier at the entrance of the Shindo Bränew complex and upgrading the senior center interior. However, residents say that is not sufficient compensation given the lost sea view and the potential decline in home values.
Separately, Gangneung City received 3.8 billion won in cash from the project owner. A plan to build a public parking lot near the IPARK complex was initially reviewed, but during the Urban Architecture Joint Committee's deliberation, the plan was changed to build the parking lot elsewhere, and cash payment was made. The site for the parking lot has not yet been decided.
Residents argue, "The existing complex suffers the view and sunlight damage, but the 3.8 billion won went to Gangneung City and can now be used elsewhere." Gangneung Mayor Kim Jung-nam ordered that the use plan for the 3.8 billion won be explained to residents. Gangneung City plans to hold a residents' briefing in September.
A representative of the developer said, "We legally obtained project approval under the relevant laws and built the apartment," and added, "If a lawsuit is filed, we will respond in accordance with legal procedures."