Full-scale greenbelt liberalization to begin

Liberalization of so-called greenbelt areas will go into full swing in June, with Cheju City allowing development of areas that were previously off limits to builders. The ministry of construction and transportation said Sunday that it liberalized 18 greenbelt designations in Cheju, Kyonggi Province and in and around Seoul and Kwangju.

Under a plan to reform greenbelt designations adopted in July 1999, restrictions placed on the development of parts of Cheju and six other suburban areas would be lifted within the year. They are Chunchon, Yosu, Chongju, Jonju, Jinju and Tongyong.

Cheju City will use part of the 82.6 square kilometer area, 79.28 square kilometers in Cheju City and 3.32 square kilometers in North Cheju County, to build an air cargo transit estate (0.44 square kilometers) and welfare town (0.43 square kilometers). The city administration is to work out a blueprint by the end of June to be followed by newly permitted development projects in the latter half of the year.

At the end of March, greenbelt regulations on lands in and around four residential communities in Kwangmyong and Songnam, Kyonggi Province will be liberalized, together with restrictions on 14 areas in and around Puchon, Kimpo and Kwangju City. In eight cities including Shihung, Kwachon and Uijongbu, 22 villages located within greenbelts will see land restrictions liberalized in June after a review is conducted in April. Thirteen areas in Seoul and 16 communities in Pusan are also expected to have existing curbs removed in June or July, according to the construction and transportation ministry.

The existing greenbelts would be redesignated as greenery for conservation, almost equivalent to home building sites where small dwelling units and neighborhood facilities such as a stores, bathhouses or a shops could be built. Areas designated as natural greenery could accommodate larger community institutions as restaurants, banks or educational institutes.

Koo Ja-Ryong bonhong@donga.com