Gangnam District to Reduce Reconstruction Approval Period by 30%

Launches with Mayor Kim Hyunki’s First Official Approval

On his first day in office on July 1, Kim Hyunki, Mayor of Gangnam District Office, approved the “Gangnam Reconstruction Acceleration (Shinhwa) Project,” a comprehensive plan to expedite the reconstruction and redevelopment process, as his first official agenda item.

Hyunki Kim, Mayor of Gangnam District (center front row), is taking a commemorative photo after the first official approval in the 9th local government term. Provided by Gangnam District Office.

On July 2, Gangnam District Office announced that through this project, it aims to shorten the approval and permit period by more than 30% and intensively manage delayed sites, thereby advancing the overall project timeline by more than two years. The goal is to supply approximately 27,000 housing units within the 9th local government term. Currently, there are 103 urban renewal projects underway in Gangnam District, including 53 reconstruction sites, as well as remodeling and redevelopment projects.

The district will immediately launch the “Gangnam Reconstruction Acceleration (Shinhwa) Task Force” directly under the mayor’s office. Led by the mayor, the task force consists of a Rapid Implementation Team, an On-Site Communication Team, and a Specialist Support Group. The Rapid Implementation Team will manage project progress and coordinate with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, while the On-Site Communication Team will operate reconstruction partners and support associations. The Specialist Support Group will provide expert consultations on legal and accounting matters related to urban renewal projects and mediate conflicts.

The district will operate a “Seoul Consultation Body” consisting of the mayor, the city council, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. For matters requiring consultation with external organizations, the mayor will personally lead the discussions. In the mayor’s office, progress boards for each project site will be installed to monitor the status of major renewal projects daily, and future plans and project objectives for each site will be released on the district’s website. Resident satisfaction surveys will be conducted twice a year, in the first and second half.

A Specialist Support Group of approximately 40 experts, including lawyers, accountants, and tax accountants, will also be established. These experts will be assigned one-on-one to each project area to mediate conflicts and will be stationed at the district office once a week to provide specialized consultations on tax, accounting, and other aspects of urban renewal projects.

The core focus is speed. The district plans to reduce the statutory processing period for major approvals—such as the establishment of the promotion committee, association establishment, project implementation plan approval, and management disposition plan approval—from 240 days to 154 days. At the association establishment stage, the review process will shift from an individual reviewer to a team-based review, and pre-application consultations among relevant agencies will be conducted before submitting the project implementation plan to shorten the period. At the management disposition plan approval stage, a feasibility review will be conducted immediately upon application.

Sites experiencing project delays will receive separate intensive management. Monthly progress review meetings will be chaired by the mayor, and weekly meetings will be led by division heads. Procedures that can be carried out simultaneously—such as interdepartmental consultations, public inspections, and collection of district council opinions—will be integrated. Relocation and demolition reviews will also be conducted in parallel, enabling immediate demolition after relocation is completed.

Mayor Kim Hyunki stated, “During the last election campaign, I heard countless desperate pleas from residents asking, ‘When will reconstruction finally happen?’” He added, “Now, as mayor and head of the task force, I will personally visit the sites, resolve procedural bottlenecks, and take the lead in consultations with Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.” He continued, “As residents have waited a long time, I will deliver results quickly and effectively in return.”

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