Byun Chang-Hum “Development of Seoul Villas to Increase Floor Area Ratio”

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport candidate Byeon Chang-heum is expressing his views on land and housing policies at an online press conference on the 18th. Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport candidate Byeon Chang-heum announced that he would develop low-rise residential complexes with multi-family and multi-family housing in Seoul as a middle-rise residential complex and increase housing supply by increasing the floor area ratio of the station area. It has also repeatedly confirmed the will to introduce public self-owned housing at affordable pre-sale prices. However, there are many skeptical views on the possibility of realization, such as low incentives for private participation or high budgets, as there is no change in the position that public-led development and return of development profits are required.

Candidate Byun held an online video conference with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s access reporters and said, “The public’s question about housing is not an absolute lack of quantity, but a better environment, a wider area, and convenient transportation. Because,” he said, “There are plenty of sites to supply housing in downtown Seoul.”

He emphasized, “The low-rise residential area in Seoul is 111km² (about 33.6 million pyeong), and if it is developed into a mid-rise housing, a sufficient amount of housing can be supplied.” He then said, “By reinterpreting various regulations such as parking lots, roads, and the right to sunlight from the perspective of residents’ lives, and introducing an urban regeneration model, we can expand the supply of housing,” he said.

Regarding the development of the station area, he said, “There are 307 subway stations in Seoul, but the average floor area ratio of the station area is 160%, which is low density development.” In addition, he said, “The Seoul semi-industrial area also has sufficient development conditions with 20km² (approximately 6,500,000 pyeong) similar to that of the Gyeonggi-do Bun-nao city. “We can supply not only innovative spaces but also houses in line with the 4th industrial transformation. Candidate Byeon also emphasized that “the stability of housing is possible when the public who provides my house with the amount of jeon tax introduces housing and supplies it widely with public sales and rentals.” Public self-contained housing refers to a public pre-sale housing in which the sale price is lowered through land rental (land is owned by the public, housing is owned by individuals) and repurchased (pre-sale on the premise that the house is sold back to the public). As such, the focus was on supply activation, but maintained the existing position that redevelopment and reconstruction should be led by the public, not the private sector. Candidate Byun said, “(Private maintenance project) is a system that gives’great benefits’ such as changing the use of housing and increasing the floor area ratio.” “The impact on the surroundings is so great that a certain level of regulation is inevitable.” However, some point out that effective supply is difficult. “Expanding supply is the right direction, but public-led supply is a niche market compared to private development,” said Professor Shim Gyo-eon of Konkuk University.

It is unusual to hold an official press conference as a ministerial candidate. President Moon Jae-in ordered vice Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki to actively consult about the supply plan for candidate Byeon before the National Assembly hearing, and it does not seem to have anything to do with ignoring democratic procedures. Candidate Byun said, “The public’s desire for stability in the housing market was so great that we prepared the seat.”

Reporter Lee Sae-sam [email protected]Go to reporter page>