Jongno District's new strategy: Legalizing unpermitted homes to save hanok
In Jongno District, the historical heart of Korea’s capital, centuries-old heritage lives alongside the messy realities of modern urban living. High-rise office towers share narrow alleyways with sprawling neighborhoods of hanok — traditional Korean houses. Reconciling urban regulation with the preservation of these architectural treasures has long presented a challenge for municipal authorities.…
Jongno District, a historic part of South Korea's capital, coexists with both ancient heritage and modern urban development. Tall skyscrapers intersperse narrow streets with sprawling hanok - traditional Korean dwellings. Balancing urban regulations and the preservation of these architectural gems has been a persistent issue for city planners.
Recently, Jongno District took a significant step to address this challenge. District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong unveiled a landmark agreement with the Jongno Association of Architects. This collaboration aims to legalize structures that currently violate building codes while safeguarding and expanding the district's beloved hanok landscape.
The initiative is driven by the establishment of an Unsanctioned Building Support Center within the Jongno District Office. This center will function ahead of a nationwide special law set to enforce on December 17th. The centerpiece of the center is to directly pair professional architects with property owners. The ultimate objective is to safely aid residents in bringing unpermitted structures into compliance with safety standards.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
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