[Interview] KREDII President Kim Seungbae: "Verifying Field Voices... Translating Them into Persuasive Policy Language"

The First Research Institute in the Real Estate Development Sector
"Presenting an Integrated Perspective
Encompassing the Entire Lifecycle of Space Creation"

"While other research institutes may focus only on specific stages such as construction or financing, the Korea Real Estate Development Industry Institute aims to present an integrated perspective that encompasses the entire lifecycle of space creation, from land acquisition and permits, to construction and operation."

On June 23, Kim Seungbae, the inaugural president of the Korea Real Estate Development Industry Institute (KREDII), expressed his determination in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, stating, "It is difficult to respond to complex crises with the current system in which development, construction, and finance are handled separately."

KREDII is the real estate development industry's first professional research institute, established earlier this month. It was spun off from the policy research office within the Korea Developer Association to become an independent organization.

Kim Seungbae, President of the Korea Real Estate Development Industry Institute, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Establishing a research institute specializing in real estate development has long been President Kim's ambition. After taking office as the 5th president of the Korea Developer Association in 2020, he created a 'policy research office' within the association. From that time, he envisioned growing it into a research institute. President Kim said, "As a department within the association, we could respond quickly to member companies' current issues and regulatory improvement requests, but there were limits to conducting long-term research and accumulating data."

He added, "Real estate development has often depended on field experience and individual capabilities," and stated, "The institute will turn experience collected in the field into case studies and statistics, providing resources for the government and the public to reference." He continued, "Our goal is to grow into an independent think tank that creates its own agenda and offers alternatives."

President Kim identified 'research on changes in spatial demand' as the institute's top priority. He said, "In the era of AI, the use of offices, data centers, and commercial facilities will change," and added, "We will examine building usage criteria in line with real changes in everyday life."

When asked about the negative perception of real estate development, he emphasized, "Development investment is a form of 'productive finance' that creates jobs and consumption, just like building factories." President Kim pointed out, "The funds invested in development projects flow into materials suppliers, on-site workers, and small businesses," stressing, "Real estate development should be evaluated from the perspectives of industry and domestic demand."

President Kim stated, "Developers are creators of spaces, and those spaces have a long-term impact on cities and the lives of citizens." He added, "It is the institute's responsibility to verify field voices through data and case studies, and to translate them into policy language that the public can understand."

KREDII will hold its inaugural symposium on June 25 at the Oakwood Premier Coex Center in Seoul, under the theme of 'The Role and Strategy of the Real Estate Development, Construction, and Finance Industries in the Era of Great Transformation.' KREDII, the Korea Research Institute for Construction Industry, and the Korea REITs Association will each present on topics related to development, construction, and finance, respectively.

President Kim said, "This will be the first time the institute steps forward as a bridge connecting the field, policy, and industry," and added, "We will prove that the development industry can contribute to solving urban and housing problems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.