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Seoul eases development rules for vacant school sites
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Seoul eases development rules for vacant school sites

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Seoul is easing development regulations on former school sites due to declining student populations.
  • The relaxed rules will allow for larger buildings on these sites if they are converted into public cultural or sports facilities.
  • This initiative aims to facilitate the transformation of underutilized school properties into community assets.

Seoul is loosening development restrictions on school sites that have become vacant or relocated due to a shrinking student population. The city aims to make it easier to repurpose these spaces for community benefit.

Under the revised Seoul Metropolitan City Urban Planning Ordinance, former school grounds designated for public cultural or sports facilities will now be subject to the same building density rules as surrounding areas. Previously, these sites faced stricter limits to prevent excessive development.

For instance, a site previously restricted to a building coverage ratio of 30% or less will now adhere to the standard ratio for its zoning district. This change is expected to encourage the development of libraries, gymnasiums, and other public amenities on these underused properties, addressing the growing number of vacant school lands.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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