Recruitment begins for new 2027 urban regeneration projects to breathe life into deteriorated downtowns and promote balanced national development.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 10th it will begin the call for proposals outlined in this plan in earnest on the 11th.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will overhaul its support system starting next year so that results continue even after projects end. It plans to focus on laying the groundwork for municipalities to become self-reliant by strengthening the capabilities of local merchants and residents and fostering operators for on-site support organizations and hub facilities.
Applications will proceed by accepting plans through the end of this year to align with municipal budgeting schedules. After review by the Urban Regeneration Special Committee chaired by the prime minister, final sites will be confirmed in the first half of 2027.
In particular, this call significantly extends the preparation period from the previous one month to at least three months to support substantive project planning, and increases the number of pre-consultations to two or more. It will also introduce a standard survey method to accurately identify resident demand and strengthen assessments of basic social overhead capital (SOC) to prevent duplication of similar facilities in advance.
The 2027 program will proceed in three main forms. "Regional specialization regeneration," which leverages unique local cultural or industrial assets to raise brand value and revive commercial districts, will receive up to 15 billion won in national funding over four years. "Support for deteriorated residential area improvement," which expands amenities in areas with poor residential environments and assists with dwellings maintenance, will be selected in two categories: general type (up to 15 billion won over five years) and vacant house maintenance type (up to 5 billion won over four years). "Accredited projects," which pursue small-scale infrastructure improvements or major building renovations, will receive up to 5 billion won over three years.
Detailed call guidelines can be found on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Regeneration Integrated Information System websites. On the 17th, a briefing session for local governments will be held at the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) headquarters in Daejeon.
Kim Ei-tak, first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said, "Urban regeneration projects are a core initiative to overcome the crisis of regional extinction and achieve balanced growth," adding, "We will actively support all actors within the urban regeneration governance—local governments, support centers, and community residents—so they can successfully carry out urban regeneration projects together."