Sustainable Building Legislation and Incentives in Korea: A Case-Study-Based Comparison of Building New and Renovation

More than one quarter of buildings in the Republic of Korea (RoK) are aged, approaching the end of their projected lifetimes, and require renovation. Aged buildings in the RoK are generally demolished, and new buildings with higher gross floor areas are realized on the same properties. That kind of redevelopment is associated with increased resource consumption, related greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental impacts, as well as the generation of construction waste and the displacement of existing building tenants. This study analyzes the legislative framework for sustainable building in the RoK. Legally mandated basic standards for new buildings and renovation were analyzed, and differences were identified. Calculation methods and criteria for sustainable building incentives were determined. Incentive calculation methods were applied to three case-study buildings, which represented the three most common building types in Korea. Maximum building height, floor-to-area and building coverage ratios, and fiscal incentives for energy-efficient technical systems were quantified for new buildings and renovations. The findings identified the current legislative privileges for new buildings. To increase future sustainable building renovations, the criteria and tools for improving the existing legal framework, and economic feasibility, were identified and discussed.