Seoul city government says housing supply in quasi-industrial zones already underway

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it is already pursuing housing supply of about 25,000 units across 32 sites through regulatory reforms in quasi-industrial zones. The city issued the statement to clarify that regulatory improvements and project development are already underway, in response to a government official's call to make greater use of quasi-industrial zones in areas such as Yeongdeungpo-gu and Guro to expand housing supply.

The city released an explanatory statement Thursday, saying "apartment construction is possible in all quasi-industrial zones within Seoul" and that it had raised the floor area ratio for apartments in those zones to a maximum of 400% through regulatory reforms following its "Southwest Seoul Transformation" announcement in February 2024.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Kim Yong-beom, the presidential office's policy chief, said at a forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club that the housing market in the greater Seoul area was unstable and that it was time to "just build, no excuses." He added that some quasi-industrial zones still remain in parts of Seoul such as Yeongdeungpo-gu and Guro, and that the central government and Seoul city government should work together to devise measures that go beyond existing frameworks to expand housing supply.

Following the February 2024 "Southwest Seoul Transformation" announcement, the city has been enforcing an amendment to the Seoul Metropolitan City Urban Planning Ordinance since March 2025, allowing a floor area ratio of up to 400% for apartment construction in quasi-industrial zones.

Building on that, the city said it is actively advancing both projects that had been halted or delayed before 2024 and new projects.

A total of 32 projects are currently underway to supply housing in quasi-industrial zones, covering about 25,000 units. By project type, these include six district unit plan sites with 4,694 units, two urban renewal-type redevelopment sites with 3,359 units, and 24 reconstruction and redevelopment sites with 16,966 units.

The city is also selecting pilot sites for industrial innovation zones, where a commercial-zone floor area ratio of 800% can be applied, and is drawing up industrial innovation plans for those areas. In such zones, high-density mixed development combining 400% for industrial use and 400% for residential use is possible, the city said.

The city added that for areas where residential conversion in surrounding neighborhoods has advanced considerably and industrial functions have weakened, a change in zoning designation is also possible after a comprehensive review of surrounding land use conditions.