Seoul City plans to restrict the height of new buildings alongside the Han River as part of measures to better preserve the riverside environment and promote sustainable urban development.

The metropolitan government announced a master plan for riverside management which also includes construction of more eco-friendly parks and facilities and increasing accessibility to the river.

To prevent reckless construction of skyscrapers, all apartments planned near the riversides should not have more than 35 stories, with a height restriction of 15 stories for apartment buildings nearest the riversides.

Residential areas designated for redevelopment such as Apgujeong Banpo and Ichon will be affected by the height restriction.

However, major city districts such as Jamsil and Yeouido will be allowed to have skyscrapers with 50 stories or less.

To improve accessibility, more overhead bridges and underground paths below the roads that run along the riversides will be built in a partnership between private business and the city.

“The plans are not a means to restrict city development, but to increase the value of the city. The city government will work with its citizens in implementing the management plan for the riversides,” said Lee Je-won, director general at the city’s urban planning bureau.

The plans also include creating more parks, some of which feature historical sites.

The city said that it would complete the Yanghwa Ecological Park in Yanghwa by the end of this year.

The park, to be located in the Yanghwa Hangang Park, will be 75,360 square-meters in size and the ninth ecological park in Seoul.

Yeouido Saetgang, Gangseo, Godeok and Amsa are some of the other ecological parks in the city.

When an eco-park in Banpo is built by 2014, 24 percent of the 2.1 million-square meters of parks along the Han River will be covered with greenery.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)