Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki convenes residents, association heads and experts to find solutions; more than 50 participants share policy updates and discuss on-the-ground challenges
Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki has signaled an all-out commitment to reconstruction, approving the long-stalled Eunma apartment reconstruction project shortly after taking office.
Kim appears to view soaring housing prices — driven by a shrinking supply — as the most pressing issue of the moment, and the push for faster reconstruction aligns with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's policy of accelerating housing supply.
Against that backdrop, Kim convened a reconstruction policy forum titled "Gangnam Reconstruction: Finding Solutions Together" on Wednesday at the main lobby of the district office, bringing together more than 50 residents, reconstruction association members and experts.
Previous area-level forums had centered on association heads and project representatives. This time, the district broadened participation to include association staff and specialists from the "rapid-progress expert support group" — lawyers, tax accountants, architects and appraisers. It marked the first time the district mayor, project representatives, on-site staff and field-specific experts had gathered in one place to discuss obstacles at each stage of reconstruction and ways to improve the regulatory regime.
The district shared the current status of reconstruction projects in the area and upcoming ground-breaking plans. Officials outlined key reconstruction policies aimed at supplying about 27,000 units within the current mayoral term, covering the operation of the Reconstruction Rapid Harmony (Sinhwa) task force, daily progress management by project site, shorter administrative processing times, operation of the expert support group, and resident education and on-site communication.
Participants from the field also raised a range of requests, including more flexible integrated review standards, eased building regulations, proactive conflict management using outside experts, revitalization of remodeling projects, and administrative support for mixed rental-and-presale complexes.
The district plans to swiftly review proposals it can address internally through consultations with relevant departments. Issues requiring regulatory changes by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or other agencies will be compiled as formal requests and taken up through official channels.
Support for reducing early-stage conflicts will also be strengthened. The district will expand advisory and mediation services through the rapid-progress expert support group, and will continue inter-departmental coordination and site-specific issue management through the Sinhwa task force and progress management meetings.
"Reconstruction is a challenge that government, residents and experts must solve together," Kim said. "I will make sure the voices heard today translate into real changes in administration and improvements to the system." Kim added, "I will take responsibility to the end — pushing reconstruction forward faster while reducing conflict."
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