Land Minister: "Working-Level Talks First on Seoul City's Delayed Urban Public Housing Complex Project; Reclaiming Approval Authority a Last Resort"

Ruling Party: "If Consultations Remain Delayed Through Year-End, Approval Authority Must Be Reclaimed"
"Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee to Consider Revising Enforcement Decree"
Hong Jiseon: "Seoul City's Project Delays Run Counter to the Law's Intent"
"Working-Level Talks First... Reclaiming Approval Authority Is a Last Resort"

After the ruling party said it would consider reclaiming approval authority for project plans in response to Seoul City's delay in holding preliminary planning consultation meetings for the Urban Public Housing Complex Project, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Jiseon said, "We will first seek to resolve the issue through working-level consultations." The delay in consultations with Seoul City has raised concerns about disruptions to the supply of approximately 30,000 homes, but the intent is to leave reclaiming approval authority as a last resort.

At a press briefing on the Urban Public Housing Complex Project site near Yaksu Station in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on November 11, Minister Hong said, "The authority related to project plan approval has been delegated to Seoul City, so the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport cannot compel the city to act against its wishes." He added, "Reclaiming approval authority is a last resort. We are negotiating with Seoul City while asking it to engage in consultations in a more forward-looking and timely manner."

Yonhap News Agency

However, he pointed out that Seoul City's delay in holding the preliminary planning consultation meetings runs counter to the legal purpose of delegating approval authority to local governments. Minister Hong said, "The original purpose of the law's delegation of authority was to give project approval authority to local governments that administer affairs directly on the ground, because this can speed up projects and allow for a quicker response to residents' views." He added, "From the residents' perspective, Seoul City's decision to apply preliminary planning consultation meetings—which are not required by law—to multiple project sites is unreasonable in that it slows projects down."

Earlier that day, the ruling party said it would consider amending the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Public Housing to return Seoul City's authority to approve project plans to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport if the city continues to delay holding preliminary planning consultation meetings. The authority to approve project plans, which originally rested with the minister under the Special Act on Public Housing, was delegated to Seoul City through an amendment to the enforcement decree.

At the press briefing, Kim Namgeun, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, said, "Seoul City is using its project approval authority as a reason to set up preliminary planning consultation meetings, a discretionary procedure that is not provided for by law, and is blocking projects from moving forward." He added, "The supply of 30,000 homes is on hold because of Mayor Oh Sehun's obstinacy." He continued,  "If the issue is not resolved by the end of this year, the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee will consider returning project plan approval authority to the minister, in line with the original intent, and expediting the projects."

According to the urban renewal industry, preliminary planning consultation meetings for six districts, covering 11,859 homes, have been delayed for six months: ▲Suyu 12 District in Gangbuk-gu ▲Sangbong Bus Terminal in Jungnang-gu ▲Bulgwang Neighborhood Park in Eunpyeong-gu ▲Jangwi 12 District in Seongbuk-gu ▲the area near Yaksu Station in Jung-gu ▲the west side of Goeunsan Mountain. Including 11 additional project sites where meetings are scheduled to be held in the future, the supply volume affected amounts to approximately 30,000 homes.

Seoul City had initially planned to hold the preliminary planning consultation meetings in May. However, it has postponed them, citing concerns about uncontrolled development and fairness with private-sector urban renewal projects over a proposal to apply the benefit of a 1.4-fold increase in the floor area ratio to the Urban Public Housing Complex Project in addition to existing benefits.

The preliminary planning consultation meeting is a process held after a district designation is announced, in which Seoul City, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and the relevant district office discuss specific project plans, including floor area ratios and building heights. Although this is not a legally mandatory step, coordination in advance is effectively necessary to ensure smooth project progress, as local governments hold the authority to approve project plans.

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