Seoul to Speed Up Small-Scale Redevelopment with 'Floor Area Ratio Relaxation,' Supplying 8,000 Households Over Three Years

Holding resident briefings by region and offering support such as business feasibility analysis and architect consultations

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon inspects a small-scale redevelopment site (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Yoon Dong-jin = Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is inspecting the site of the Hwarang Housing small-scale redevelopment project in Oryu-dong, Seoul, which is a beneficiary of 'Deregulation Measure No. 33,' on the 17th. 2025.3.17 mon@yna.co.kr

Seoul City announced on the 10th that it plans to actively implement its floor area ratio relaxation measures designed to revitalize 'small-scale redevelopment' projects, with the goal of supplying an additional 8,000 households over the next three years.

As part of its deregulation plan, the city has been implementing a support policy since May that temporarily relaxes the floor area ratio for small-scale buildings in general residential zones of Type 2 and Type 3, up to the legal maximum, for three years.

Accordingly, the floor area ratio has increased from 200% to 250% in Type 2 zones, and from 250% to 300% in Type 3 zones.

This applies to small-scale housing redevelopment projects such as ▲ small-scale redevelopment (under 10,000㎡ of land) ▲ small-scale redevelopment (under 5,000㎡ of land) ▲ autonomous housing redevelopment projects (under 36 households), as stipulated by the Vacant Property and Small-Scale Housing Rearrangement Act.

The city aims to discover 60 sites that meet the standards for project implementation plans for small-scale redevelopment by May 2028, when the floor area ratio relaxation period ends, and supply an additional 8,000 housing units, by actively publicizing the deregulation details and providing tailored public support.

To this end, starting with the first resident briefing held on the 9th, "On-site Briefings" will be held for seven regional areas from the fourth week of this month.

In addition, 30 "Focus Management Sites" will be identified from projects currently underway or that have received business feasibility analysis from the city, and an additional 30 "New Project Sites" will be discovered, with public support to be provided concurrently.

For focus management sites, the possibility of further floor area ratio relaxation will be reviewed, and if site-specific consultations are needed, additional consultations with Seoul City's public architects will be provided. The first resident briefing was held at a focus management site.

New project sites will be identified through resident briefings in each region, targeting approximately 2,620 dilapidated and substandard buildings that are 30 years or older.

Basic data on the feasibility of floor area ratio relaxation will be provided to approximately 30 sites with development intentions, and initial consulting will be supported in collaboration with autonomous districts.

The schedule for regional briefings can be checked on the Seoul City website (https://news.seoul.go.kr/citybuild/archives/521863) or through autonomous districts.

The city is also supporting business feasibility analysis for small-scale redevelopment projects annually to assist in prompt resident decision-making. On the 4th, 16 sites were selected for the 2025 business feasibility analysis.

By going through the process of status surveys, resident interviews, business feasibility analysis, and resident briefings, initial uncertainties are reduced and decision-making transparency is increased. Analysis results include estimated contributions, analysis of existing and future assets, and alternatives for regulatory resolution.

Institutional efforts to revitalize small-scale redevelopment are also being pursued in parallel.

The city has requested institutional improvements from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to establish low-interest loan products from the Korea Housing Finance Corporation and create funds for small-scale redevelopment projects, similar to those for street housing redevelopment projects.

In addition, the city plans to continuously request that small-scale redevelopment projects, which have limited development profits relative to their scale, be reconsidered under the Reconstruction Profit Recovery Act.

Choi Jin-seok, Head of Seoul City's Housing Bureau, said, "To revitalize small-scale redevelopment projects that have been stagnant, the city is directly holding on-site briefings and providing enhanced public support," adding, "We will do our best for substantial improvement of residential environments and expansion of housing supply."

Promotional material for small-scale redevelopment projects [Provided by Seoul City. Reproduction and database prohibited.]