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Busan Metropolitan City Launches Survey to Identify New Candidate Sites for Spatial Innovation Zones

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced on July 31 that it will conduct a demand survey through August 25 to identify candidate sites for the Spatial Innovation Zone (Type 3) that allow for creative spatial planning while maintaining the existing zoning system.

A Type 3 Spatial Innovation Zone is a “special urban planning zone” in which regulations on permitted land use, building coverage ratio, and floor area ratio are relaxed. It allows for a combination of various functions to serve as new urban growth hubs.
Spatial Innovation Zones (Type 3): A new designation system introduced through the amended National Land Planning Act, effective from August 7, 2024. This includes:
① Urban Innovation Zones: Where land use and density can be freely planned
② Mixed-Use Zones: Where land use is flexible and density can be increased
③ Integrated Urban Planning Facility Zones: Where urban planning and non-planning facilities are spatially combined with increased density

This survey aims to promote awareness of the Spatial Innovation Zone system to residents (including stakeholders) and to identify additional candidate sites beyond the two already selected for pilot projects.
※ Residents may propose candidate sites under Article 35-3 of the National Land Planning and Utilization Act.

Currently, the city is working with the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) and Parkland Co., Ltd. to promote two candidate sites for Spatial Innovation Zone designation. These sites were selected in July 2024 as part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s pilot projects and include:
▲ The Yeongdo-gu Industrial Area Revitalization Project
▲ The Geumsa Industrial Innovation Platform Project in Geumjeong-gu

The candidate sites must meet the criteria for one of the three types of Spatial Innovation Zones under the National Land Planning Act. The main features are as follows:

• ●Urban Innovation Zones: Promote high-density, mixed-use development incorporating offices, hotels, residences, hospitals, and parks on underutilized sites in urban areas.
  Example: Marina Bay in Singapore, a global complex redeveloped from aging port hinterlands for residential, international business, and tourism purposes.

• ●Mixed-Use Zones: Transform old industrial complexes or declining urban centers into integrated areas with residential, commercial, cultural, and business functions to meet the demand for proximity between work and living.
  Example: Boston Innovation District in the U.S., where waterfront warehouses were redeveloped into mixed-use areas featuring residences, offices, public and cultural facilities, and parks.

• ●Integrated Urban Planning Facility Zones: Relax installation restrictions and development controls (e.g., coverage ratio, floor area ratio, height) for urban planning facilities such as sports centers, parks, and terminals when site conditions are favorable.
  Example: Conversion of restricted residential zones to allow comprehensive medical centers.

Landowners or interested parties who wish to propose candidate sites must submit the required documents via email (donotever@korea.kr) by August 25.

Details including guidelines, the survey form, and landowner consent forms are available on the city’s official website (www.busan.go.kr/nbgosi).

Busan Metropolitan City will comprehensively evaluate feasibility and designation suitability to select new candidate sites between September and October.

For selected sites, the city will provide consulting and administrative support for the designation process.

Some of the proposed sites may be used as foundational data for the ongoing “Busan-style Urban Innovation Spatial Planning Study.”

For inquiries, contact the City Spatial Planning Division at 051-888-3601.

Min Soon-gi, Director of the City Spatial Planning Bureau, stated, “We welcome active participation from residents, businesses, and institutions interested in the Spatial Innovation Zone (Type 3) initiative. Busan Metropolitan City is committed to using this system to advance innovative urban planning and develop new growth hubs in the city through functional integration.”