(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Sept. 22)

Preserve green belt
The government's master plan to construct 5 million new homes in the next 10 years is a shift from the previous administration`s housing market stabilization policy, which focused on suppressing demand.

The latest plan calls for building 500,000 housing units annually -- including
300,000 in Seoul and the surrounding areas -- over the next decade. According to
the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs, the supply of housing,
which currently stands at 99.3 percent of demand, will reach 107.1 percent by
2018. The expectation is that by expanding the supply where it is wanted, the
government will be able to stabilize the country`s housing market.
The Lee Myung-bak administration's comprehensive housing plan also includes the
building of affordable homes for low-income households. Of the 5 million new
units, 1.5 million will be designed for low-income households. Of them, 700,000
will be offered for purchase and 800,000 units will be rental units. A total of
120 billion won will be spent over the next 10 years to build the 1.5 million
units.
The housing supply increase was a key component of Lee`s presidential election
manifesto, and now the administration has presented its blueprint. The plan to
build in places where there is demand is only logical. But finding the land,
especially in Seoul and the surrounding areas, may prove to be difficult.
The government found a convenient way out of this problem by announcing that it
would consider lifting development restrictions on green belt areas. A total of
100 square kilometers of green belt land near Seoul will be released for
development to build a total of 400,000 units, according to the plan.
The green belt system was adopted in 1971 under the Park Chung-hee government. In
1971, 14 areas around the country were designated green belt zones. Around Seoul,
the green belt area forms a ring between 2 kilometers and 10 kilometers wide --
15 kilometers out from the center of Seoul.
The green belt areas were heavily protected until ten years ago when the Kim
Dae-jung administration began lifting the development restrictions in some areas.
During the administrations of Kim and Roh Moo-hyun, a total of 342 square
kilometers of green belt areas were earmarked for development. Of that land, 124
square kilometers was located in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Already, 98
square kilometers of green belt land has been developed, leaving only 26 square
kilometers of green belt left available for development. The latest government
plan would see additional green belt areas being opened up for construction.
The green belt system has played an important role in keeping Seoul green, and is
heralded as a successful case of environmental preservation. Although there are
critics who assail the system as an excessive infringement on property rights,
there is no doubt that the system has held off haphazard development in and
around Seoul and helped conserve the environment.
The plan to release 100 square kilometers of greenbelt land goes against the
current trend of environmental conservation. Quality of life in and around Seoul
will undoubtedly be affected as a result of more green areas being developed.
As such, there should be a discussion on whether lifting the development ban on
green areas is the best way to proceed. Expanding urban redevelopment through
more efficient use of already available land is an alternative that could be
pursued. Generations after us will be affected by the decision that is made now,
and the public should be involved in the discussion.
(END)