The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it will hold a public hearing on the 18th at the National Assembly regarding the draft ‘Special Act on Supporting the Activation of Modular Construction.’ This act aims to define modular construction legally for the first time and promote its growth through regulatory relaxation and incentives.
Modular construction is a new building technology in which major structural components are pre-fabricated off-site, such as in factories, and then assembled on-site. Compared to conventional methods, it shortens construction time by 20-30% and reduces high-altitude work, improving safety. However, current regulations applicable to traditional construction have hindered its wider adoption.
The special act provides legal grounds for establishing a basic plan for promoting modular construction and setting up a review committee. It also encourages the development of modular-specific standards for design, construction, supervision, and cost estimation, with priority application in the public sector. The Minister may designate promotion zones to support infrastructure development and demonstration projects.
To ensure quality, the act introduces the ‘Modular Production Certification System’ and the ‘Modular Building Certification System.’ The use of certified modules will be mandatory for certain public construction projects, and certified buildings will be eligible for incentives and regulatory exemptions based on their certification level. The ministry plans to proceed swiftly with legislation after reviewing public comments.