Gyeonggi's Former Green Belt Areas to Undergo Major Transformation as Regulations Ease

Residents in Gyeonggi Province can finally see progress in their long-stalled urban renewal projects. For years, areas previously designated as green belts (development-restricted zones) remained underdeveloped, forcing residents to endure dilapidated housing. This situation stemmed from regulations that tied the upgrading of land use zones to the completion of adjacent new town developments.

Now, the national government has significantly lowered the hurdles for these regulations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revised its guidelines for urban and county management plans concerning development-restricted zones, a move that officially took effect on June 10. The core of this revision is the acceleration of "land use zone upgrades," which increases land value and permits apartment construction.

Previously, even after a green belt area was released from restrictions, residents had to wait for years until nearby public housing projects were fully completed before their land could be rezoned. This meant enduring outdated, low-rise housing while new, modern neighborhoods sprang up next door. Under the new rules, land use zones can be elevated as soon as construction begins on adjacent new towns, drastically shortening the period of regulatory constraint.

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Why wait until the neighborhood next door is fully built?

This policy shift is set to benefit 30 former green belt areas in 12 cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province, covering approximately 2.85 million square meters. The provincial government estimates that over 20,000 new homes could be supplied if resident consent is obtained smoothly. Areas like Daejangan Village, adjacent to the Bucheon Daejang District where construction began in August 2023, are now poised for immediate redevelopment.

The reforms also cater to smaller villages that face challenges with large-scale, comprehensive development. Previously, dividing a single village into multiple zones for phased development was strictly prohibited, often leading to the complete collapse of projects due to minor disagreements among residents. Now, if a village is clearly divided by features like roads or railways wider than 15 meters, it can be segmented for phased development, allowing for gradual progress. This will revitalize projects in areas like Goyang Samsong Village, which has been hampered by a road bisecting the community and resident disputes.

Furthermore, the scope of redevelopment options has expanded significantly. Residents can now choose "mini-redevelopment" methods such as autonomous housing redevelopment projects or "garo" housing redevelopment projects, which involve small-scale improvements to detached and multi-family homes. A provincial official stated, "We will continue to actively propose institutional improvements so that no resident suffers under unreasonable regulations despite their area being released from green belt status."

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We will continue to actively propose institutional improvements so that no resident suffers under unreasonable regulations despite their area being released from green belt status.