On May 15, 2024, Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that amendments to the Housing Act and the Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities had passed the National Assembly. These changes enable simultaneous reviews of educational, disaster, and fire assessments during housing construction permits and unify previously fragmented urban renewal planning steps. The main goal is to reduce repetitive administrative procedures, thereby accelerating both housing supply and urban regeneration. These reforms are expected to have a positive impact on market stability and urban revitalization.
The Housing Act amendment actively promotes increased housing supply by improving the permit system for housing construction projects. The scope of integrated project reviews now includes educational environment, disaster impact, and fire performance assessments, which is expected to shorten permit periods by 3 to 6 months. Additionally, supervision during natural disasters is strengthened, and prospective residents can request on-site inspections to ensure safety. Public housing projects in shantytowns are now exempt from price caps, enabling faster project execution.
The Urban Renewal Law amendment streamlines procedures for urban regeneration projects in first-generation new towns, Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, and other cities. Special and implementation plans can now be unified, and administrative steps for basic and special plans can proceed concurrently. Consent procedures for landowners are simplified, and the institutionalization of resident representatives and preliminary project operators expands public participation. The law also allows for the combination of separated districts at the planning stage.
These amendments will take effect six months after promulgation, with certain provisions regarding rights calculation effective immediately. The Ministry expects these legal changes to facilitate faster housing supply and urban renewal projects. Increased administrative efficiency, enhanced resident convenience, and greater transparency in project implementation are anticipated. Further improvements in related systems are expected to continue enhancing the quality of residential environments.
These amendments mark a significant step toward digitalizing administrative processes and adopting integrated review systems in Korea’s housing and urban policy. By shortening permit periods and simplifying procedures, the reforms address bottlenecks in housing supply and boost the execution of urban regeneration projects, thereby increasing public trust. The institutionalization of resident representation and enhanced safety measures reflect growing societal demands for citizen participation and safety, laying the groundwork for future smart city and sustainable urban policies.