Seoul to Begin Construction on 40,000 Moa Housing Units by 2031... Project Timeline Shortened by 1.5 Years

Intensive Process Management for 146 Areas Ready for Construction
Deployment of 'Mobile Rapid Solutions Task Force' for Delayed Districts
Introduction of 'Integrated Moa Planning' Involving the Public and Residents
4.5 Years to Groundbreaking... Soliciting 100 New Moa Town Candidates

On August 23, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will actively implement the 'Accelerated Integrated Moa Town Promotion Plan' to expedite the groundbreaking of Moa Housing and Moa Town projects.

Seoul City Hall CI. The Asia Business Daily DB

For ongoing projects, construction will be accelerated through process management. For new initiatives, the city will introduce an 'integrated Moa planning' approach that combines the establishment of plans and housing associations, with the aim of shortening the overall project period.

Through these efforts, the city aims to commence construction on 40,000 Moa Housing units by 2031. In addition, Seoul will select 100 new candidate sites for the integrated Moa planning program by 2030, thereby laying the foundation for supplying an additional 120,000 housing units.

Since the policy was introduced in 2022, 137 Moa Town projects have been underway, and the establishment of comprehensive management plans has created a supply base for approximately 130,000 units. Currently, 156 Moa Housing projects, totaling around 43,000 units, are moving forward following the formation of residents’ associations, while 34 sites with 5,000 units are preparing to break ground, having completed project implementation plan approvals.

To this end, the city will pursue four main strategies: 1) intensive process management to commence construction on 40,000 Moa Housing units, 2) introduction of the 'integrated Moa planning' framework involving both the public sector and residents, 3) enhanced public support for each project phase, and 4) strengthened resident communication and project management capabilities.

Targeting Groundbreaking of 40,000 Moa Housing Units... Expanding 'Construction Sites' Through Tight Process Management

The city plans to initiate, in phases, 14,000 units by 2028 and 40,000 units by 2031.

The 146 areas ready for groundbreaking will be classified as either 'intensively managed' or 'generally managed' depending on their project progress. The city and local governments will conduct regular monthly 'Rapid Groundbreaking Progress Meetings' to assess progress and delays for each district and to establish necessary administrative and financial support measures.

The head of Seoul’s Moa Housing division and the district chiefs will be designated as 'Process Promotion Officers’ responsible for meticulous process management within each project area.

For districts facing possible delays, a 'Mobile Rapid Solutions Task Force' will be deployed. This team, consisting of experts in seven areas—architecture, maintenance, legal, accounting, appraisal, conflict management, and construction project management—will visit the sites with the public sector and resident associations to conduct on-site reviews and provide specialized consulting.

From Candidate Selection to Groundbreaking in 4.5 Years with 'Integrated Moa Planning'

The city is introducing a new approach for Moa Towns called 'integrated Moa planning,' which combines public planning support with resident-led project management. This method has the public sector, experts, and residents working together from the beginning to develop a plan, allowing multiple procedures to proceed simultaneously and thus reducing the overall project timeline. Building upon 'one-team planning,' concurrent procedures, standardized processing deadlines, and process management—as seen in the rapid integration planning model—this new initiative adds 'stakeholder integration’ and 'simultaneous association establishment,' with participation from various Moa Housing residents as key features.

The city aims to establish management plans within a year while simultaneously forming residents’ associations. Even after these associations are established, designers chosen by the association and the public sector will work together on architectural planning and modify management plans as needed, which will shorten the period from association formation to groundbreaking from the current average of six years to about 4.5 years—a reduction of 1.5 years.

Residents, the city, districts, Moa Master Planners (MP), and SH Corporation will form the 'Moa One Team' for close cooperation. Residents will handle association formation and project promotion, while Seoul and local district governments will support the integrated Moa planning and management plan development. The Moa Master Planner will provide coordination and consulting, and SH Corporation will help analyze project feasibility for calculating estimated contributions and, if needed, participate in joint project implementation.

The city will solicit applications for new candidate sites for integrated Moa planning, selecting a total of 100 sites by 2030 and creating the framework for an additional 120,000 housing units. For the selected areas, the city will support the costs related to developing management plans, feasibility analysis, and association formation.

From Standard Bylaws to Construction Cost Verification... Strengthening 'Public Support' at Each Project Phase

To ensure transparent operation of Moa Housing associations, the city will create tailored regulations reflecting project characteristics, including standard bylaws and standard construction contracts for contractors.

Additionally, to enable displaced Moa Town tenants to move into redevelopment rental housing, the city will expand tenants’ choices in rental properties and establish reasonable rent and compensation standards, along with offering standard floor plans that address tenant demand.

A dispute verification system will also be introduced to minimize conflicts over construction costs for Moa Housing. In large-scale maintenance projects, if cost disputes arise between the association and construction company, SH Corporation or the Korea Real Estate Board will verify the increased construction cost. However, for small-scale Moa Housing projects, there has been no legal basis or institutional system for construction cost verification. A related ordinance will be enacted in Seoul, after which SH Corporation will verify construction costs for Moa Housing projects.

Standardized joint housing management regulations and manuals will also be established for integrated Moa Town management. This will help reduce inefficiencies and management fees arising from multiple residents’ committees and management offices.

Public Sector Participation from Project Initiation... Raising Resident Communication and Association Competency

To lessen confusion caused by misinformation early in projects, the public sector will directly hold a 'First Steps Residents’ Briefing for Our Association.' These sessions will be held at both the candidate selection and association formation stages, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different project approaches (such as resident association-led, SH participation, trust, and joint projects), the roles of association presidents and officers, and guidelines for selecting construction companies, designers, and maintenance firms—providing essential information for association operation.

The city will also designate successfully implemented Moa Towns as 'Model Moa Towns.' Sites demonstrating expedited project progression, active implementation of Seoul’s policies, and transparent association management will be selected, and will receive incentives such as expanded support for electronic voting and online general meeting costs, prioritized loans for initial project expenses and relocation costs, among others.

As the first Model Moa Towns, the city has chosen Konkuk University Moa Town in Gwangjin District, Seoksu Station Area Moa Town in Geumcheon District, and Nangok-dong Moa Town in Gwanak District—all of which significantly reduced project durations.

Noh Joon Myung, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Housing Policy Bureau, stated, "Moa Housing and Moa Town have become hallmark urban renewal initiatives that revitalize aging low-rise neighborhoods and lay the groundwork for new housing supply in Seoul. Now, it is time to go beyond just making plans, and ensure speedy progression to actual groundbreaking. The city will actively support everything from process management to conflict resolution to make this a reality."

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