3040s Sweep the Subscription Market... Attention Focused on 'School-Park Zones' Embracing Parks and Schools

[Financial News] As the real estate market is being restructured around end-users, the criteria for selecting a place to live are becoming increasingly stringent. In the past, proximity to a station was the absolute standard for residential value, but recently, as the trend of prioritizing quality of life and a generational shift among core buyers have coincided, so-called "school-park zones" (a combination of school and park zones) that encompass both parks and schools are receiving high attention.
According to the results of the '2026 Real Estate Trends' consumer survey jointly released on the 14th by Heerim Architects & Planners, R2Korea, and Gallup Korea, 'comfort of the natural residential environment' maintained a top ranking among location considerations when relocating, recording a selection rate of 36%. In particular, the perceived importance of 'green spaces and landscaping facilities within the complex' surged significantly from 18% to 28% compared with the previous year. This indicates that the preference for pleasant surroundings is becoming more segmented and upscale, extending beyond the simple presence of a park near the home to eco-friendly complexes where the areas inside and outside the complex are connected by greenery.
Added to this are the characteristics of the 30- and 40-something generations, which have established themselves as key players in the apartment subscription market. According to statistics on subscription applicants by age from the Korea Real Estate Board (KREB), those in their 30s and under accounted for approximately 58.0% and those in their 40s for approximately 25.8% of total applicants from January to July this year, together comprising an overwhelming 83.8%. For this core subscription demographic—those with school-age children or expecting a child—a school-zone location offering safe walking access is an indispensable top priority. In other words, the intersection that satisfies both pleasant surroundings and safe education—the core keywords driving the current presale market—is precisely the "school-park zone."
It is noteworthy that the scarcity value of locations in "school-park zones," where schools and large parks are adjacent, is steadily increasing. Core blocks that connect the complex, park, and school provide a pedestrian environment where children can safely walk to and from school without crossing roads. This scarcity is directly translating into premiums of hundreds of millions of won in the actual sales market. An 84-square-meter unit at Suwon's 'Gwanggyo Jungheung S-Class,' which encompasses Gwanggyo Lake Park and Gwanggyo Lake Elementary School, traded for 2 billion won last August, marking a price increase of more than three times its initial presale price. Similarly, 'Godeok Gracium' in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, demonstrated a steep upward trend, with an 84-square-meter unit trading for 2.49 billion won last July, thanks to its advantageous location encompassing both parks and schools.
Against this backdrop, the presale market in the second half of this year is expected to attract end-users' attention as promising complexes with both school-zone and park-zone locations are supplied one after another. Bando Construction plans to launch 'Gyeyang New City KIVE Ubora' in Blocks AC3 and AC4 of Gyeyang New City this coming October. This mixed-use complex, comprising 1,110 units, will have sites for a kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school planned directly in front of it, while a park and green space approximately four times the size of Yeouido Park will be adjacent, providing a pleasant residential environment. IPARK HYUNDAI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY is currently accepting first-priority applications for 'Cheonan IPARK City Complexes 3 & 4,' being developed in the Budae-dong area of Cheonan, Chungnam. A new kindergarten and elementary school are planned in front of the complex, which will also be connected to Seongseong Lake Park and a complex walking trail. POSCO E&C plans to launch 'Acmer Dongtan' in the Dongtan Bansong-dong area of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do. Dongtan Central Park can be accessed via the walking path in front of the complex, while schools such as Hakdong Elementary School and Seoku Middle School are within walking distance. In addition, Seongnam's 'The Sharp Bundang Highest' and Ulsan Nam-gu's 'Grand Lac Aileen's Garden' are attracting attention as school-park zone complexes.

[email protected] Jeon Min-kyung Reporter