On 29 Dec. 2021, the Architecture & Urban Research Institute (auri) held the seminar, ‘Remodeling Apartments to Create Sustainable Residential Spaces’. The seminar was held online over Zoom to discuss practical issues and pending issues with experts before the special law was passed. Kim Eunhee (research fellow, auri) explained, ‘In the cases of remodeling that involve an extension or increasing households, systematic project management were unlikely to be used due to a lack of regulations on changes in rights relations. Instead the remodeling projects centred around major repair occurs, which led to sluggish Apartments Remodeling projects’. Most of the participants agreed to the enactment of a special law on remodeling, since there are restrictions on remodeling in current housing law which centre on newly-built projects. In particular, Lee Donghoon (principal, moohan Architecture & Associates) and Shin Mingyu (conductor, Samsung C&T) explained the limitations of the existing ‘Project Authorization’ procedures. Cha Heungkwon (representative lawyer, ulchi law firm) noted, ‘From a legal point of view, “Authorization” is at the discretion of governing entities while “permission” relies on excluding the discretion of governing entities. It is recommended that the term "approval" be used as an intermediary concept between authorization and permission in remodeling projects’. Some experts even pointed out that special laws should be enacted in advance. Kim Jeyeop (professor, Sungkyunkwan University) explained that ‘The remodeling prescribed in the building law and the housing law is different, so it is necessary to articulate the characteristics of the remodeling to enact a special law’. Maeng Dami (research fellow, The Seoul Institute) added, ‘The special law basically nullifies and preempts related laws, so the special law should take precedence over the application of current laws’. ‘As remodeled apartments form the context in the region, the administration of the local government should also be considered. While the law dictates the overall direction of the Apartments Remodeling, the ordinance for an actual implementation should also be considered in accordance with the characteristics of the local governments’. Shin Dong-woo (professor, Ajou University), who presided over the discussion, remarked, ‘It has been eight years since the extension-type remodeling system was approved, but there has been no implementation’. He stressed the importance of legislation and concluded, ‘We will continue to hold online seminars to take heed of diverse opinions’.
seminar, Remodelling Apartments to Create Sustainable Residential Spaces / Image courtesy of auri