{"id":2204031,"date":"2024-02-29T16:42:44","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T07:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204031"},"modified":"2024-03-01T17:30:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T08:30:56","slug":"why-south-koreas-urban-expansion-is-a-double-edged-sword-for-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/why-south-koreas-urban-expansion-is-a-double-edged-sword-for-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why South Korea\u2019s urban expansion is a double-edged sword for growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
The South Korean government\u2019s <\/span>announcement<\/span><\/a> of the deactivation of 131 square miles (339 square kilometers) of military facility protection zones frees up an area roughly half the size of Seoul for development, marking a significant shift in urban and real estate dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n However, it simultaneously ushers in concerns over potential speculation, reckless development and the implications for national security and environmental sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\n THE PLAN<\/b><\/p>\n The establishment of military facility protection zones, as designated by the South Korean Minister of National Defense, safeguards military bases and operations, covering approximately 8% of the country\u2019s territory. Despite their importance for national security, these zones have introduced challenges for property development and valuation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe inability to fully utilize land within these zones often results in suppressed property values and limits opportunities for real estate development,” Lee Eun-hyung, a researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy, explained to <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n This situation has sparked a <\/span>debate<\/span><\/a> over the balance between maintaining national security and promoting urban development.<\/span><\/p>\n In response to these challenges, the defense ministry <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> the deregulation of these zones in selected areas. Its plan focuses on three key areas: the removal of airfield protection zones, the lifting of restrictions in border areas, and the elimination of zones impacting schools.<\/span><\/p>\n The initial step involves revoking the designation of military airfields as protected zones in eight specific locations spanning 110 square miles. This measure is designed to ease constraints on construction and expansion projects in these vicinities, enhancing land utility.<\/span><\/p>\n The ministry has conveyed that this adjustment will \u201csignificantly alleviate local inconveniences,\u201d allowing residents to \u201cundertake construction or modify the use of buildings freely, without the need for military consultation, provided they adhere to the altitude limitations imposed by flight safety zones.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, the plan includes the removal of protection zones across border areas covering 15 square miles. This segment of the policy aims to balance military operations with residential and commercial development, ensuring that \u201cunhampered construction activities and building expansions without height restrictions\u201d can occur, effectively granting \u201cfull property rights for the inhabitants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The third facet of the initiative focuses on a 5-square-mile area, particularly highlighting the situation of <\/span>elementary schools within Godeok New Town<\/span><\/a>. Notably, Minse Elementary School in Pyeongtaek\u2019s Godeok International New Town is set to open in September, following the removal of nearby protection zones that previously delayed its commencement.<\/span><\/p>\n This policy shift also includes plans for the early lifting of zones around the Yeongi Airfield, facilitating its integration with Jochiwon Airfield and promoting local development efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n Amid these announcements, <\/span>speculation<\/span><\/a> has arisen that the initiative may have been timed to influence public opinion ahead of the April general election.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis move could be interpreted as an effort to garner favorable public opinion before the upcoming general elections,\u201d Cheong Seong-chang, the director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n In an attempt to get ahead of such speculations, President Yoon Suk-yeol <\/span>emphasized<\/span><\/a> that the policy was a result of careful consideration of evolving urban and technological landscapes since the 1970s, leading to a reevaluation of the necessity for such zones.<\/span><\/p>\n