Seoul cuts red tape to transform city with bold new architecture

“Seoul is moving to speed up one of its most ambitious urban design initiatives, betting that faster approvals and wider participation can transform private developments into publicly accessible landmarks across the city. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will overhaul its Urban and Architectural Design Innovation Project, a program introduced in 2023 to encourage developers to create architecturally distinctive buildings paired with publicly accessible open spaces. Under the revised system, the city plans to reduce the average project review timeline from more than two years to about 17 months by streamlining administrative procedures and consolidating approval stages. Officials said the changes are intended to help creative proposals move more quickly from concept to construction while preserving key design elements and public access commitments throughout the development process. The program offers incentives such as relaxed height and floor-area-ratio regulations to private developers that incorporate innovative architecture and civic spaces into their projects. So

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