liminfoZoning Reference
Free reference guide: Zoning Reference
About Zoning Reference
The Korean Zoning Reference is a comprehensive, searchable guide to South Korea's land use zoning system established under the National Land Planning and Utilization Act. It covers 40 entries organized into eight categories: Residential zones (Type 1/2 Exclusive, Type 1/2/3 General, Semi-Residential), Commercial zones (Central, General, Neighborhood, Distribution), Industrial zones (Exclusive, General, Semi-Industrial), Green zones (Conservation, Production, Natural), Management zones (Conservation, Production, Planned Management, plus Urbanization Adjustment and Growth Management), Natural Environment (Conservation, Greenbelt, Urban Natural Park, Agricultural Promotion, Mountain Land Conversion), Use Districts (Landscape, Height, Fire Prevention, Preservation, Settlement, Specific Use Restriction, Mixed-Use), and Coverage/Floor Area Ratios for every zone type.
Understanding Korean zoning is essential for real estate developers, architects, urban planners, property investors, and anyone involved in construction or land transactions in South Korea. Each zone determines what can be built (permitted uses), how much of the land can be covered (building coverage ratio), and how tall and dense the development can be (floor area ratio). For example, a Type 2 General Residential zone allows mid-rise apartments with 60% coverage and 150-250% FAR, while a Central Commercial zone permits high-rise offices and hotels with 90% coverage and up to 1500% FAR. These numbers directly determine project feasibility and land valuation.
All data is presented locally in your browser with instant search by zone name or keyword and category-based filtering. No information is transmitted to any server, and no registration or download is required. The reference provides both Korean and English translations, making it accessible to international investors and architects working on Korean projects. Dark mode is fully supported for comfortable use in any environment.
Key Features
- 40 entries covering all Korean zoning categories: residential, commercial, industrial, green, management, and natural environment
- Building coverage ratio (BCR) and floor area ratio (FAR) limits for every zone type
- Permitted and prohibited uses listed for each zone (housing, commercial, industrial, agricultural)
- Use district reference: landscape, height, fire prevention, preservation, settlement, and mixed-use districts
- Special zone explanations including greenbelt (development restriction), agricultural promotion, and urbanization adjustment
- Management zone comparison: conservation vs. production vs. planned management with development potential ratings
- Instant search by Korean or English zone name with 8 filterable categories
- 100% client-side with bilingual KO/EN interface, dark mode, and responsive design for mobile use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is building coverage ratio (BCR) in Korean zoning?
Building coverage ratio (BCR, Korean: 건폐율) is the maximum percentage of the land area that can be covered by a building footprint. For example, a 60% BCR on a 500 m2 lot means the building footprint cannot exceed 300 m2. BCR varies by zone: residential zones range from 50-70%, commercial zones 70-90%, industrial zones 70%, green zones 20%, and management zones 20-40%.
What is floor area ratio (FAR) in Korean zoning?
Floor area ratio (FAR, Korean: 용적률) is the ratio of total floor area of all stories to the land area. A 300% FAR on a 500 m2 lot allows up to 1,500 m2 of total floor space. FAR determines building height and density. Central Commercial zones allow the highest FAR at 400-1500%, while Conservation Green zones are limited to 50-80%. Local governments can set specific FAR limits within the national range.
What is the difference between Exclusive and General Residential zones?
Exclusive Residential zones (전용주거지역) prioritize protecting the residential environment with strict use restrictions — Type 1 allows only detached houses up to 3 stories, Type 2 adds apartments. General Residential zones (일반주거지역) allow more flexibility — Type 1 allows 4-story housing, Type 2 permits mid-rise apartments, and Type 3 permits high-rise apartments with some commercial uses. Semi-Residential (준주거지역) allows mixed residential and commercial with the highest FAR (200-500%).
What can be built in a Semi-Industrial (준공업) zone?
Semi-Industrial zones are the most flexible industrial zones, allowing factories alongside housing, commercial shops, and office buildings. The BCR is 70% and FAR is 200-400%. This makes Semi-Industrial zones popular for urban regeneration projects and mixed-use development. Unlike Exclusive Industrial zones, which prohibit housing, schools, and hospitals, Semi-Industrial zones permit light manufacturing alongside residential and commercial functions.
What is a Greenbelt (개발제한구역) in Korean zoning?
A Greenbelt (Development Restriction Zone) is a designated area around major cities designed to prevent urban sprawl. The BCR is limited to 20% and FAR to 100% or below. Only limited renovation or expansion of existing buildings is allowed — new construction is generally prohibited. The Korean government periodically adjusts greenbelt boundaries, and some areas have been released for development, particularly around Seoul metropolitan area.
What is the difference between the three Management zones?
Conservation Management (보전관리) requires nature/forest conservation with the strictest limits (BCR 20%, FAR 50-80%). Production Management (생산관리) preserves areas for agriculture, forestry, and fishery with similar limits. Planned Management (계획관리) has the highest development potential among management zones (BCR 40%, FAR 50-100%) and is often targeted for systematic development when urban expansion is needed.
How do Use Districts differ from Use Zones?
Use Zones (용도지역) are the primary zoning classification that covers all land in Korea. Use Districts (용도지구) are overlays applied on top of zones for specific purposes. For example, a Landscape District limits building design to protect scenery, a Height District restricts building height, a Fire Prevention District requires fire-resistant construction, and a Settlement District relaxes limits within green/management zones to accommodate existing communities.
Is this reference based on current Korean law?
Yes. The zoning categories and BCR/FAR ranges in this reference are based on the National Land Planning and Utilization Act (국토의 계획 및 이용에 관한 법률) and its enforcement decree. Note that local governments can set specific limits within the national ranges, so always verify with the local municipality's urban planning ordinance for a specific site. This tool provides the national framework as a quick reference.