Developers building hotels that meet certain standards near Hapjeong Station in Seoul's Mapo District will be able to apply a floor area ratio of up to 1.3 times the level set by city ordinance. Rules for housing development in commercial zones will also be eased.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 29th that its Urban Planning Committee's redevelopment subcommittee approved the "Hapjeong District Unit Plan Amendment" with revisions on the 28th. The plan covers about 82,502 square meters within the preservation and management zone of the Hapjeong redevelopment promotion district.
Under the amendment, commercial areas with active retail activity will be designated as a tourist accommodation zone. Tourist lodging facilities built there that meet the guest room and ancillary facility standards for three-star or higher hotels will receive floor area ratio easing on a sliding scale based on the share of guest rooms. In general commercial zones, the 800% ordinance floor area ratio can rise to as much as 1,040%.
If height limits make it difficult to fully use the floor area ratio, the building coverage ratio and maximum height may be further eased in consideration of surrounding conditions. The special provision applies only to projects that file for a construction permit by January 4, 2029.
Standards for housing and commercial development will also change. Base floor area ratios, which had varied by zone, will be unified at the ordinance level, and projects that adopt features enhancing public benefit — such as smart city, carbon neutrality and design innovation elements — will be allowed a permitted floor area ratio of up to 110% of the ordinance level. Items that qualify for the maximum floor area ratio, including public open space, energy efficiency and green building features, will also be expanded.
The separate rule requiring that non-residential uses account for 10% of the allowed floor area ratio, which had applied only to housing development in commercial zones, will be abolished. The general requirement under the Seoul city urban planning ordinance remains in place, however, so developers of mixed-use residential buildings must still set aside at least 10% of total floor area for non-residential use.
"Through this revision, we expect to see improvements in the quality of the residential environment around Hapjeong Station and an expansion of tourism infrastructure," said Myung No-jun, head of the Seoul city housing bureau.
