“It’s where you enjoy life, not where you live” ... Complexes sharing infrastructure in “functional living areas” gain popularity

[Financial News] Homebuyers are placing greater importance on access to daily amenities than on transportation, a survey found. As a result, complexes are proving competitive in the apartment presale market even when located in new towns or across administrative boundaries, provided they can share nearby commercial, educational, medical and other everyday infrastructure.
On the 5th, according to “2026 Real Estate Trends,” a joint study by Heerim Architects & Planners, Altu Korea Real Estate Investment Advisory and Korea Gallup Research Institute, access to daily amenities ranked highest among location factors considered when choosing a home in the future, at 60%.
In last year’s survey, transportation convenience led at 64%, ahead of access to daily amenities at 57%. This year, however, transportation convenience fell to 56%, reversing the rankings.
As the emphasis on access to daily amenities grows, complexes that share the everyday living areas of popular residential neighborhoods are gaining popularity. Analysts say more homebuyers are looking beyond the administrative address and weighing actual access to everyday facilities and ease of getting around.
One example is Hoban Summit Lake Park in Yeongdeok-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, which is well located for access to Gwanggyo Lake Park and the daily amenities of Gwanggyo New Town. According to the Actual Transaction Price Disclosure System of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, an 84-square-meter unit in the complex sold for 1.1 billion won last September. That was 155 million won more than the 945 million won paid for a unit on the same floor in October 2021.
Busan The Sharp Centum Foret in Millak-dong, Suyeong District, Busan, also shares the daily amenities of Centum City in Haeundae District across the Suyeong-gang River. An 84-square-meter unit in the complex sold for 1.03 billion won last August.
Demand has also concentrated on complexes that share the everyday living areas of neighboring districts in the apartment presale market. Gold Class Signature, launched last April in Jinbuk-dong, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State, recorded an average first-priority competition ratio of 34.7 to 1. Although it is located in Jinbuk-dong, it offers access to existing amenities, including the commercial district along Gaeksa Street and Jeonju New Jungang Market in neighboring Taepyeong-dong.
“Apartment addresses are divided by administrative boundaries, but actual living areas do not necessarily follow those boundaries, so location assessments need to take shared access to daily infrastructure into account,” an industry official said. “In particular, complexes near preferred residential neighborhoods can share key amenities even when they are in different administrative districts. It is important to carefully assess each complex’s accessibility and how well it connects to the surrounding everyday living area.”
Meanwhile, new apartments offering access to the daily amenities of both established downtown areas and emerging residential neighborhoods are set to come onto the market this month.
Doosan Engineering & Construction plans to launch Doosan We've Trezium Iksan near Lot 1057 in Dongsan-dong, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk State. The complex will comprise six buildings, rising from two basement levels to up to 27 floors above ground, with 591 units in total. A total of 251 units with exclusive-use areas of 59 and 84 square meters will be offered for sale to the general public. The site also offers access to parks and everyday amenities in neighboring Ma-dong.
IPARK Hyundai Development Company plans to launch IPARK MUdeungsan Sky Foret in Hak-dong, Dong District, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. Of the complex’s 2,299 units across 19 buildings, rising from three basement levels to up to 29 floors above ground, 1,387 units with exclusive-use areas of 59 to 135 square meters will be offered for sale to the general public. Residents will have access to educational facilities, including the academy district in neighboring Bongseon-dong, and will also be close to established downtown amenities such as Namgwangju Station on Gwangju Metro Line 1, Chosun University Hospital, Chonnam National University Hospital and Namgwangju Market.
In Gochang County, Jeonbuk State, the Taeyoung Engineering & Construction consortium plans to launch Gochang Desiang in Blocks B2 and B3 of the Deoksan District in Gochang-eup. The complex will have 888 units with exclusive-use areas of 84 to 125 square meters across 13 buildings, rising from two basement levels to up to 18 floors above ground. Block B2 will have 357 units, and Block B3 will have 531. Residents will be able to use existing amenities in Gochang-eup, including the Gochang County Office, Gochang Culture Terminal, Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, Gochang Traditional Market and Gochang Hospital.

[email protected] Choi A-young Reporter