Yongsan District Introduces 'Conflict Management Coordinator' for Redevelopment Projects... Appoints Former Council Chairperson Kim Sungchul

Preventing and Mediating Disputes in Redevelopment Projects
Operated in Conjunction with the Fast-Track Task Force

Yongsan District in Seoul (Mayor Kim Kyungdae) has appointed a 'conflict management coordinator' to prevent disputes and reduce project delays during redevelopment and reconstruction projects. The district announced that this is the first such case among Seoul’s local governments.

Kim Kyungdae, Mayor of Yongsan District Office (right), is taking a commemorative photo with newly appointed Conflict Management Coordinator Kim Seongcheol. Provided by Yongsan District Office.

According to Yongsan District on July 30, Kim Sungchul, former chairperson of Yongsan District Council, has been appointed as the first conflict management coordinator. Kim previously served as a 9th-term member of Yongsan District Council and as its chairperson during the latter half of the term, and also acted as the floor leader of the People Power Party within the council. He is currently serving as an advisory member of the Yongsan District Council of the National Unification Advisory Council.

The conflict management coordinator handles on-site investigations and stakeholder interviews upon request by relevant departments when disputes occur or are anticipated during redevelopment projects. They also support mediation and arbitration efforts, diagnose potential sources of conflict from the early stages of projects, and propose solutions. Key responsibilities include preemptive checks for potential delays, support for stakeholder communication and consultation, conflict mediation and dispute resolution, and providing customized advice and professional counseling for each project.

The conflict management coordinator operates in connection with the Yongsan Development Fast-Track Task Force, which was newly established as the first executive order of the 9th popularly elected district mayor. The task force continuously monitors the progress of major local development and redevelopment projects, and identifies and resolves potential causes of project delays at an early stage.

The task force is responsible for process management by project, holding regular and ad hoc inspection meetings, organizing communication meetings with executive members of redevelopment associations, providing expert advice and counseling, running resident empowerment training programs, and managing and coordinating major conflict issues. The district aims to enhance execution of project plans by establishing a collaborative system involving relevant departments, associations, and experts.

The district also shared cases where reinforcing conflict and process management successfully shortened redevelopment project timelines. The Cheonghwa Apartment reconstruction completed administrative procedures in 599 days—131 days faster than the standard 730-day processing period required for designating and announcing the redevelopment area.

The Bando Apartment reconstruction completed its third round of comprehensive and expedited planning consultations in 222 days, which is 268 days shorter than the standard 490-day period, and aims to designate the redevelopment area in the second half of this year.

Notably, the Cheonghwa Apartment project faced resident conflicts over alterations to building plans. However, by holding resident briefings and working with the project committee to coordinate opinions, the district was able to proceed smoothly with the designation process for the redevelopment area.

Mayor Kim Kyungdae said, “Redevelopment projects can be promoted more stably and quickly when mutual trust and sufficient communication between residents are ensured. Centered around the conflict management coordinator and the fast-track task force, we will provide systematic support from conflict prevention to process management to ensure that redevelopment projects in the district move forward without setbacks.”

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