Seoul’s “Rapid Integrated Planning” at Five: What Needs Improvement?

\ \ [Financial News] Seoul Metropolitan Government has designated 214 redevelopment areas through “Rapid Integrated Planning,” which it introduced in 2021. The time required to designate a redevelopment area, previously about five years, has been cut by more than half to around two years.
\ \ According to Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 27th, Rapid Integrated Planning is a flagship support program for redevelopment projects introduced by the city after Mayor Oh took office. It supports planning in partnership with the private sector from the early stages of a project, helping speed up its progress.
\ \ In this connection, the city will hold the “2026 Rapid Integrated Planning Stakeholders’ Workshop” on the 29th to discuss ways to advance efforts toward a faster housing supply, including expanding the foundation for housing supply and shortening project timelines.
\ \ The workshop is expected to be attended by Rapid Integrated Planning planners, conflict management officers, participating companies, officials from autonomous districts and Seoul Metropolitan Government, and experts. Commendations from the mayor of Seoul will be awarded to 10 people, including experts and officials who have contributed to advancing the program.
The workshop will feature discussions on the systematic management of redevelopment projects, improvements to the operation of Rapid Integrated Planning, and deregulation.
\ \ Dr. Im Hui-ji of the Seoul Institute, Song Jeong-mi, head of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Rapid Integrated Planning Division, and Kim Seok, head of its Housing Policy Team, will give presentations and propose various measures on topics including “Systematic implementation of Seoul’s housing redevelopment projects and the use of Rapid Integrated Planning,” “Ask More, Listen More, Put It into Practice: Five Years of Rapid Integrated Planning—Achievements and Tasks Ahead,” and “A Shift in the Direction of Seoul’s Redevelopment Policy and Deregulation.”
\ \ Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to incorporate expert opinions and feedback from the field presented at the workshop into the future operation of Rapid Integrated Planning and improvements to the system. “We will continue to strengthen planning support in line with changing conditions for redevelopment projects and support a stable housing supply,” said Chang-kyu Kim, head of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Space Bureau.

[email protected] Kwon Jun-ho Reporter