서울연구원로고

• Topic Urban Planning/ Housing , Digital Transformation/ Technology
• AuthorJunyoung CHOI, Jae-Do KANG, Hyunseok MOON, Sung-bum YUN

• 조회수77
• 등록일2025-11-20

In 2021, the Seoul Metropolitan Government enacted the “Ordinance on the Operation of the Integrated Building and Housing Information System,” marking the first local legislative basisin South Korea for the development of a Basic Plan for Building and Housing Informatization. This study was conducted as preliminary research to support the formal establishment of the plan, with the primary aim of promoting digital transformation in the building and housing sectors and building a strategic digital platformthat supports policymaking, administrative innovation, and industry development. Currently, systems such as “Seumter” (for permitting and administrative data) and “VWorld” or “S-Map” (for 3D geospatial data and simulations) operate independently, causing inefficiencies in urban planning and administrative decision-making. This study highlights the urgent need to technically integrate building information with 3D geospatial systemsand recommends corresponding institutional reforms. Real-time permitting reviews, automated architectural deliberations, and urban simulations become feasible when such open platforms are interconnected. The study further outlines the necessity for a data governance frameworkto structure and consolidate over 1,000 distinct data items managed by various departments under Seoul's Housing Division. It also proposes a cloud-based information system, open data initiatives, and public-private collaboration to foster an innovation-driven digital ecosystem. The envisioned platform would support five core policy domains—housing supply, building safety, redevelopment, post-management, and residential welfare—and be embedded across all policy and administrative processes. Seoul’s strategy prioritizes digital architectural design environments, data-driven decision-making, standardized and open data, and analytical models based on 3D digital twins. Beyond administrative modernization, the Basic Plan is redefined as a comprehensive strategy to promote evidence-based policymaking and digital industrial innovation. Achieving this will require a full revision of the relevant ordinance and robust legal and institutional support to ensure successful implementation.

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorKeesei Lee, Han Jin Oh, Kyung-min Kim, Junyong Park

• 조회수324
• 등록일2025-11-18

In the 2010s, multiple infrastructure incidents raised awareness of aging structures, accelerating technological and academic advancements in this field. Seoul, with bridge lifespans over twice the national average, is particularly susceptible to aging issues. Notable cases include the Jeongneung Stream Overpass incident in 2016 and the collapse of Dorim Overpass in 2023. Currently, bridge management relies on safety diagnostics, but existing standards are somewhat qualitative and lack detailed analysis, making improvement necessary. Safety assessments focus primarily on “diagnosis” rather than preventive maintenance. Bridges are rated from A to E, but these ratings often fail to reflect specific maintenance needs, requiring more granular evaluation of each component’s condition. Safety inspection reports are extensive, with inconsistent damage recording formats, complicating data management. Additionally, maintenance records lack uniformity, hindering an accurate assessment of current conditions. The Korea Infrastructure Safety Corporation’s integrated facility management system (FMS) also struggles with inconsistent data formats, limiting effective analysis. To address these challenges, introducing new technologies like drones, BIM, and monitoring systems, along with standardizing data formats, has been proposed. This approach aims to enhance management efficiency, reduce additional budget and workforce requirements, and clarify maintenance priorities, ultimately supporting more precise decision-making and strengthening infrastructure safety.

• Topic Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorDong-Guen Kim, Dong-Sung Kim, Young-Eun Choi, Hyung-Jun Shin, Tae-yup Sung, Seo-Young Lee, Yoon-Jung Oh

• 조회수53
• 등록일2025-11-17

Since the 2020 amendment to Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Operation of Local Government-Invested or -Funded Institutions, municipal governments must undergo a feasibility review by their respective Regional Institute when establishing an invested or funded institution. Based on the Standards for the Establishment of Local Government-Funded Institutions, Regional Instiutes currently assess 11 items: ① public service relevance, ② ratio of core mission-related projects, ③ economic analysis, ④ appropriateness of implementing entity (including overlap with existing institutions), ⑤ organizational and staffing demands, ⑥ appropriateness of the investment or contribution plan, ⑦ consistency between the proposed budget and expected outcomes, ⑧ civil servant downsizing plan, ⑨ welfare effects for residents, ⑩ regional economic impacts,  ⑪ fiscal impacts on local government. However, these items differ in weight, contain overlaps, and lack clear functional differentiation, resulting in a weak logical structure of the evaluation framework. Therefore, before developing detailed guidelines, this study seeks to clarify the division of roles among the assessment items and to reconstruct them in a more rational and coherent manner. A comparison between the components of the establishment plan specified in the Standards for the Establishment of Local Government-Funded Institutions and the evaluation indicators in the review checklist revealed weak correlations. Among the establishment plan elements, only “public service relevance” and “ratio of core mission-related projects” correspond to the component “scope of business (range and content of target projects),” which is insufficient to fully assess the business scope. Furthermore, two key evaluation indicators—“alignment with regional conditions and government policies” and “project sustainability”—are not covered by any current assessment item. An analysis of five cases conducted by the Seoul Institute’s Seoul Public Investment Management Service since 2021 has provided further insights into restructuring the evaluation items. Among the first-tier categories, “appropriateness of investment and project” was conceptually ambiguous compared to other first-tier categories. In the second-tier items, “public service relevance” and “ratio of core mission-related projects” were found to be redundant and could be integrated into “appropriateness of proposed project.” Similarly, “economic analysis” and “appropriateness of implementing entity” both assess the optimal modality of establishment and should be combined. There is a partial overlap between “appropriateness of investment/contribution plan” and “fiscal impacts”, suggesting that their roles should be more clearly differentiated and systematically linked. The item “welfare effects for residents” should be renamed to reflect its actual focus on the preferences of residents and other stakeholders regarding the new institution’s establishment. To draw implications for restructuring, similar feasibility assessment systems were analyzed, including those for local public enterprises, preliminary feasibility study under the National Finance Act and Public Project.  The elements of “economic feasibility” and “policy feasibility” should be reorganized as first-tier categories by referencing these analogous frameworks. Moreover, given that the establishment feasibility assessments for institutions place greater weight on the appropriateness  of the establishment plan itself, such emphasis should also be reflected. Synthesizing these findings, the study proposes a restructured framework that reorganizes the first-tier items and refines or adds second-tier items. The first-tier categories are restructured into three logically sequential domains: “validity of the establishment plan,” “economic feasibility,” and “policy feasibility.” The first category, “validity of the establishment plan,” follows a logical sequence corresponding to the basic components of an establishment plan—problem/issue identification, goal setting, project composition, and organizational/staffing planning. The “economic feasibility” category is reorganized to assess the appropriateness of establishment and operational costs, the scale of contributions, and both direct and indirect benefits. The “Policy feasibility” category is designed to review policy considerations that are not covered by the “validity of the establishment plan” or the “economic feasibility”, but are nonetheless essential to take into account. The validity of establishment plan consists of three subcategories: (1) appropriateness of problem/issues and objectives, (2) appropriateness of proposed projects, and (3) appropriateness of organizational and staffing plans. The first subcategory examines whether the problems justifying the need for establishment and the corresponding objectives are clearly and appropriately defined. The second assesses the adequacy of project components and reviews the possibility of overlapping or duplicative functions with existing public institutions. The third evaluates whether the organizational structure and staffing levels are appropriately designed for efficient operation. The economic feasibility includes (1) reasonableness of estimated costs, (2) appropriateness of contribution scale, (3) economic  analysis, and (4) regional economic impact. This section reviews whether establishment and operational costs are reasonably estimated, whether the proposed contribution is appropriate without imposing undue fiscal burdens, compares the economic efficiency of the establishment plan with alternatives, and estimates the induced effects on production, value-added, and employment. The policy feasibility  is composed of (1) alignment with higher-level policies, (2) stakeholder preferences, and (3) special evaluation items. It assesses consistency with central and local government policy directions, reviews stakeholder opinions such as those of local residents, and examines project-specific factors such as public staffing effects and potential legal or institutional risks. To improve the guidelines for feasibility reviews, follow-up research is required to revise and complement the Standards for the Feasibility Review of Local Public Institution Establishment and the Manual for the Feasibility Review for the Establishment of Local Public Institutions. Detailed assessment methodologies for each evaluation item should be developed. In addition, training programs and workshops should be organized to promote information sharing and enhance the consistency and objectivity of feasibility reviews.

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorKyoung-Min Kim, Keesei Lee, Insuk Han

• 조회수49
• 등록일2025-11-12

This study investigates the current management conditions of street facilities in Seoul and proposes systematic improvement strategies to enhance urban aesthetics and pedestrian safety. Despite the city's efforts to promote pedestrian-friendly environments, poorly maintained and visually intrusive street facilities continue to undermine the goals of initiatives such as “Walkable Seoul” and “Design Seoul.” Ten types of facilities with direct visual and safety implications were selected through expert consultation and field evaluation. Survey results from citizens and public officials revealed a high perceived importance of street facility management but low overall satisfaction, citing issues such as budget constraints, fragmented responsibilities, and lack of interagency collaboration. To address these challenges, the study developed an integrated maintenance framework that includes a management ledger system and complaint tracking. A 360-degree panoramic imaging technique was applied for field surveys, demonstrating high efficiency in facility mapping and condition assessment. Furthermore, a maintenance prioritization index was formulated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), incorporating criteria such as importance, condition grade, and complaint frequency. A concept for a smart maintenance system was also proposed, integrating AI-based facility recognition and automated notification mechanisms. The study concludes by recommending institutional reforms, including ordinance amendments to specify maintenance responsibilities, the expansion of monitoring programs, and the establishment of a dedicated maintenance coordination committee. These measures aim to enhance transparency, responsiveness, and the long-term sustainability of street facility management in Seoul.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorSung-Kyun Shin, Sujin Kim, Sojin Lee, Min Young Song, Shin Young Kang

• 조회수70
• 등록일2025-11-10

Emphasizing the Importance of Accuracy and Reliability in Greenhouse Gas Monitoring for Carbon Neutrality Assessment The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report highlights that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are causing a rise in global surface temperatures, with CO2, CH4, and N2O identified as key contributors to global warming. This underscores the urgency and severity of climate change and calls for intensified global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In line with this, South Korea has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% of the 2018 annual average by 2030 and is actively working toward achieving this goal. The government has enacted the “Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Responding to Climate Crisis,” which defines principles and roles for emission reductions, emphasizing local governments' responsibilities and the importance of cooperation between central and regional governments. To fulfill its obligations, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has formulated the “2050 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan” and is implementing various initiatives to reduce emissions across sectors. Despite these efforts, certain sectors show stagnation or increases in emissions, raising concerns about achieving reduction targets. This has highlighted the necessity of real-time monitoring to assess and analyze greenhouse gas reduction impacts effectively. Active Utilization of Directly Measured Greenhouse Gas Emission Data for Monitoring and Policy Application Domestically and Internationally Typically, greenhouse gas emissions have been monitored using the bottom-up approach based on emission factors and inventories. Similarly, Seoul calculates its emissions using statistical data following established guidelines. However, this method involves uncertainties due to statistical representativeness and data gaps and is limited by the two-year delay in acquiring relevant statistics, restricting real-time and localized monitoring. To address these limitations, the top-down approach, based on direct measurements such as satellite, drone, and aerial observations, along with ground-based monitoring and modeling, is increasingly being adopted. Several countries, including the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, are leveraging such methods for policy validation, verification of bottom-up results, and complementary applications. Pilot Raman Lidar Observations for Urban Greenhouse Gas Monitoring, the First of Its Kind by a Local Government This study marks the first use of Raman Lidar, an advanced remote sensing technology, to monitor greenhouse gases across Seoul. Raman Lidar, which employs lasers to measure atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, offers high spatial resolution and precise remote measurements of gas concentrations and emissions. The Raman Lidar used in this pilot study demonstrated capabilities such as detecting real-time greenhouse gas distributions with resolutions ranging from 2 to 15 meters along observation paths of up to 1.5 km. Pre-implementation evaluations included reviewing laser wavelengths, mitigating observational obstructions, and validating gas concentration measurement methods through chamber experiments with standard gases, ensuring reliability and objectivity. Detecting and Monitoring Major Urban Greenhouse Gas Emission Sources in Real-Time To verify the performance of the Raman Lidar in urban settings, greenhouse gas emissions were continuously monitored near △△ Power Plant, a major emission source. Observations were conducted in collaboration with Hongik University, approximately 1 km from the power plant, from October 2024 for about a month. The Raman Lidar detected sustained high concentrations of CO2 and CH4 (up to 650 ppmv and 14 ppmv, respectively) during power plant operations, with significant diffusion into surrounding areas. Using meteorological data, the estimated emission rates were 330.91±113.21 kg/hr (CO2) and 6.87±113.21 kg/hr (CH4). Feasibility of Implementing Remote Sensing-Based Greenhouse Gas Monitoring in Seoul This study utilized advanced Raman Lidar technology to monitor major greenhouse gas emission sources in urban areas, providing high-resolution data on emission concentrations. The data can be integrated with satellite observations to create a comprehensive emission profile, supporting tailored reduction policies and effectiveness evaluations. While initial costs, maintenance, and weather conditions pose challenges, addressing these issues can facilitate systematic monitoring and policy development in Seoul. Key applications include: · Region-Specific Policies: Real-time data supports targeted reduction plans for high-emission areas and efficient resource allocation. Policy Validation and Monitoring: Enables real-time validation of existing measures and enhances responsiveness to emission changes. · Stronger Emission Regulation: Identifies major emission sources for stricter regulation and automated monitoring systems. · Integrated Climate Management: Combines greenhouse gas and air pollutant monitoring for holistic environmental management. · Sustainable Technology Implementation: Promotes collaboration among local governments, research institutes, and health agencies to ensure reliable data collection and system maintenance.

• Topic Transportation
• AuthorYoung-Je Jeong, Soon-Yong Park, Hey-Rim Cho, Joon-Hyeong Yeon

• 조회수100
• 등록일2025-10-24

Since 2019, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has actively pursued the deployment of Cooperative-Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) as a foundation for urban autonomous and cooperative driving. This pilot project established V2X-based communication infrastructure along major arterial roads and bus-exclusive lanes, installing onboard units (OBUs) on approximately 1,600 city buses to deliver real-time traffic safety services. This study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the C-ITS pilot’s effectiveness by integrating official accident statistics, real-time vehicle trajectory data (PVD), and structured driver surveys to assess outcomes both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysis confirmed significant positive effects in traffic safety, driving stability, and user acceptance. Specifically, annual accident frequencies and the severity index (EPDO) showed a raw decline of 9.1% and 21.9%, respectively, with adjusted net effects of 4.3% and 12.0% when controlling for comparison groups. In particular, C-ITS effectively reduced frequent collisions involving buses and pedestrians and improved safety in high-risk acceleration zones. The estimated economic benefit from accident reductions averaged KRW 3.05 billion annually between 2021 and 2023. In terms of driving behavior, key indicators such as JERK and acceleration noise consistently declined, indicating improved driving smoothness; JERK decreased by 12% and acceleration noise by 8% compared to 2021 levels. Risky driving behaviors, including speeding and abrupt maneuvers, fell by nearly 76% over three years. User satisfaction also improved markedly—drivers reported enhanced awareness and confidence in services like signal alerts, illegal parking warnings, and hazard zone notifications, with average satisfaction scores rising over 5% by 2025. These findings demonstrate that the Seoul C-ITS pilot achieved multi-dimensional outcomes, including reductions in accident risk, enhancements in traffic flow stability, and increased user trust. The results support the case for continued expansion and institutionalization of C-ITS as a core component of smart urban mobility infrastructure.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment , Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorSuk-Min Lee, Hyung-Mi Yoon

• 조회수142
• 등록일2025-10-13

Among the development activities that have occurred in Seoul over the past 10 years, buildings have the largest number of buildings. It can be seen that the area of mountainous areas (limnites) is steadily decreasing and is centered on the mountain borders. Development activities are classified into building construction, installation of structures, land form change, land division, and properties of objects, and the permission is decided in consideration of the surrounding environment, harmony, and appropriateness of infrastructure. Although the development activity permit standard contains provisions to prevent disasters such as soil leakage or collapse, detailed standards and specificity are insufficient. Accordingly, it is necessary to prepare specific standards in consideration of disasters at the mountain boundary in the development activity permit standard. Seoul's annual precipitation is expected to increase by 19.9% in the second half of the 21st century based on the SSP5-8.5 scenario, which is expected to increase the likelihood of landslides. As the Seoul Metropolitan Government's development activity permit operation guidelines lack information on the possibility of disasters caused by development activities, it is proposed to add content to the guidelines to strengthen disaster reduction and safety aspects. In addition, a checklist is established and proposed to review factors that can reduce disasters during development activities. The Seoul mountain borders needs a new technology for four-way projects. Damage reduction technologies applicable to the Seoul Metropolitan Government are divided into the basic work of mountains, green work, slope reinforcement work, and quarterly work, and a construction method suitable for each construction is proposed. In consideration of various other factors, including climate change, it is proposed to improve the criteria for selecting areas vulnerable to landslides and to further strengthen the criteria for mountain area conversion and development activities. In addition, an integrated management system for slope information should be established that is in charge of and managed by each institution to comprehensively grasp the risk of landslides at the mountain borders. When permitting building activities, which account for the highest proportion of development activities, the system should be linked to the recently enacted Forest Disaster Prevention Act to minimize landslides.

• Topic Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorJinha Kim, Min Suk Yoon, Hyun-Chul Jung, Hanhyung Bae

• 조회수199
• 등록일2025-09-26

Seoul faces rapid demographic transition with compressed aging patterns and structural workforce imbalances. The middle-aged workforce (40–64) comprises 49.2% of employees, but faces a critical employment gap: average retirement age is 49.4 years while desired retirement age is 69.4 years, creating a 20-year economic activity void. Current employment surveys show 83.0% of companies have hired middle-aged workers, with high demand in caregiving and social welfare sectors (90.2% hiring rate). However, challenges persist including salary expectations (31.0% of companies cite this as main difficulty) and workplace adaptation issues. Learning from international cases—Japan’s mandatory continued employment to age 70, Germany’s Initiative 50plus financial support, and Singapore’s WorkPro program—Seoul should avoid wage peak systems and focus on job-performance based compensation structures. Public sector leadership followed by private sector expansion proves most effective. Seoul proposes the "Seoul 4064" brand covering the full middle-aged lifecycle and a three-phase "Seoul-type Stable Continuous Employment System": Phase 1 (2025–2026) public sector pilot programs, Phase 2 (2027–2028) public sector expansion with job transition models, and Phase 3 (2029–) private sector application review. The “Seoul 4064+ Jobs” package will integrate social contribution, public, and private sector employment through systematic career transition support and retraining programs.

• Topic Social Affairs/ Welfare
• AuthorInchul Mun, Hyeon Park, Shin Lee, Hyemi Kim, Meekyong Song, Eunhyun Park

• 조회수93
• 등록일2025-09-26

Need for Independent International Cooperation Initiatives in Seoul In response to the urban challenges arising from rapid urbanization, the City of Seoul has implemented excellent policies in areas such as transportation, water supply and sewage, and health and welfare. However, despite ongoing efforts to datafication for policy sharing, there is a lack of in-depth policy sharing initiatives, resulting in a reliance on central government-led KSP projects or KOICA collaborations. These central government policies tend to focus on intergovernmental goodwill, revealing limitations in the discovery of follow-up projects at the urban level. Thus, an independent international cooperation initiative led by Seoul is essential, along with the development of effective inter-city policy sharing collaboration models. Limitations of Existing KSPs and Implications from the 2024 Seoul ODA Challenge The government-led Knowledge Sharing Programs (KSPs) have delivered meaningful results by aiming to share Korea’s development experience in response to the needs of developing countries. However, institutional and procedural limitations have, at times, hindered the ability to fully align with the actual aid demands of partner countries. As a result, some ODA projects have leaned heavily on Korea’s own development model, making it difficult to offer customized consultations that reflect local contexts. Although the involvement of multiple stakeholders promotes inclusiveness, it can also reduce the flexibility needed for effective project implementation. To address these challenges, the Seoul-type KSP offers a promising alternative through city-to-city cooperation. By closely reflecting the specific needs of recipient cities and focusing on early-stage demand identification and tailored solutions, the Seoul-type KSP has the potential to significantly improve development effectiveness. Pre-consultation with local governments ensures that priority development needs are adequately understood and incorporated, thereby enhancing the efficiency of international cooperation and promoting sustainable development. As Seoul’s global presence continues to grow, so too does international demand for sharing its policy experiences. However, the lack of established procedures and guidelines for policy-sharing initiatives can increase administrative burdens and result in insufficient understanding of partner cities’ needs during the project selection process. To overcome this, it is essential to develop clear operational guidelines and diversify project selection criteria. In particular, tailored evaluation frameworks should be introduced to reflect the unique characteristics of each partner city—combining both quantitative and qualitative indicators. Consistency in evaluation standards and implementation processes must be maintained, while post-project management systems should be reinforced to support long-term sustainability. Finally, establishing a robust monitoring and feedback mechanism will be crucial for tracking project performance and recommending timely improvements. Conceptual Framework for the Seoul KSP: SSP(Sharing Seoul Program) The Seoul-type KSP is a city-based development cooperation knowledge-sharing initiative that provides tailored policy recommendations for partner cities based on Seoul’s economic development experiences. Aiming at sustainable economic and social development and regional economic cooperation, the initiative seeks to address the rigidity and complexity of existing central government KSP projects while fostering closer inter-city relationships through the sharing of Seoul’s policy experiences. Under the tentative title SSP, the following strategies are proposed: 1. Emphasizing Active Participation in Project Selection: By adding diverse channels and validation steps, the project selection process aims to reflect the needs of cities, overcoming the limitations of qualitative assessments through prior consultations with stakeholders. 2. Developing Collaborative Project Plans: The program will assess the requirements and capacities of partner cities, utilizing the SSP Challenge to invite selected city officials for short-term training in Seoul. Tailored consulting services will be provided to enhance project effectiveness by applying Seoul’s experiences. 3. Managing a Pool of Partner Cities: Continuous opportunities for participation will be offered to cities not selected, allowing policy officials to learn from Seoul’s policy cases and fostering knowledge exchange to strengthen Seoul’s international cooperation network. This foundational plan is expected to contribute to establishing sustainable relationships between Seoul and partner cities through a phased approach in the selection process. Developing a Sustainable International Cooperation Model through a Comprehensive Approach The successful operation of the Seoul-type KSP requires thorough execution of exchange cooperation, project selection, post-management, and specific project implementation directions, laying a foundation for enhancing Seoul’s competitiveness. Through collaboration with global cities, better development opportunities for Seoul’s citizens will be provided, ultimately leading to improved quality of life. By discovering ODA initiatives, Seoul can expand its collaboration with overseas cities in developing countries and establish itself as a leading model for international cooperation. Moreover, through ODA initiatives, the program will support domestic enterprises’ entry into developing countries, contributing to Seoul’s economic growth and international competitiveness. This independent international cooperation initiative will facilitate Seoul’s effective development of a policy-sharing collaboration model aimed at resolving urban challenges. It is anticipated that the Seoul-type KSP will overcome the limitations of existing KSPs and governmental institutional inadequacies while reflecting the actual needs of recipient countries and promoting sustainable development.  

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorJong-Chan Kim, Hyunseok Moon, Sung-Ho Park

• 조회수118
• 등록일2025-09-23

In Seoul, there are approximately 580 thousand buildings, of which 50.4% are over 30 years old since their approval for use. Legal regulations regarding the safety and maintenance of buildings have been steadily strengthened, meaning that older buildings are likely to have vulnerable performances. However, only 12% of these buildings are subject to mandatory legal management. With implementation of the Building Management Act in 2020, a legal basis was established for local governments to manage small deteriorated buildings defined as buildings over 30 years old that meet certain criteria set by municipal ordinances. A local construction safety center (LCSC) in Seoul metropolitan government conducts safety inspections on 10 thousand buildings each year. In the past five years, approximately 38 thousand buildings have been inspected, representing only 14.6% of small deteriorated buildings in Seoul. Although the LCSC of Seoul has been conducting a structural retrofit support program, it has shown limited results due to requirement for property owners to bear some costs. This study aimed to analyse the current status of safety management support projects for these small deteriorated buildings and to propose ways to enhance their effectiveness. Legal regulations related to small deteriorated buildings primarily include the Building Management Act and the Building Act. The Building Management Act defines the scope of small deteriorated buildings, while specific building sizes are to be determined by local ordinances. All 24 autonomous districts in Seoul, except for Gangnam-gu, have implemented their own ordinances, showing variations in the scope of small deteriorated buildings. The Building Act stipulates details regarding LCSC (which is responsible for managing small deteriorated buildings) and the dedicated budget from a special account of construction safety. Both Seoul and the 25 autonomous districts have established LCSC. However, only the main office (Seoul metropolitan government) and two districts (Gangdong-gu, Nowon-gu) are organised as independent divisions. Safety management policies for small deteriorated buildings in Seoul can be mainly divided into 1st and 2nd safety inspections, detailed assessments and structural retrofit support programs. The 1st safety inspection is performed for 15 thousand buildings annually. The LCSC of Seoul has also developed a building safety management information system and utilises its own safety inspection checklist. The 2nd safety inspection is conducted when results of the 1st inspection are poor. An analysis of 50 results of 2nd inspection revealed that a cost of 2nd inspection over ten times more than 1st inspections. Some evaluation criteria were found to be irrelevant. LCSC of Seoul is actively encouraging structural retrofit in vulnerable buildings by reducing the financial burden on property owners. A survey was conducted among representatives of LCSC in 10 autonomous districts to gather opinions on the safety management policy for small deteriorated buildings. First, to secure the safety of a large number of these buildings, the survey focused on increasing inspection volumes through reallocating budgets for the structural retrofit support program and improving evaluation criteria in the inspection checklist. Most respondents felt that reallocating the budget for the retrofit support program was inappropriate and that current inspection checklist items represented only a minimum standard. Additionally, property owners being uncooperative makes effective safety inspections difficult. Requests for inspections are often related to habitability (e.g., damage on finishes) rather than structural safety. Despite reducing the financial burden on owners, the structural retrofit support program still shows limited results, largely due to the current system requiring support only after costs are paid upfront. There was a significant variability in reports of inspection results according to different experts, leading to substantial burdens for administrative officials. Even with the development of the information system, existing workloads are not resolved. Measures to improve the safety management policy for small deteriorated buildings are proposed. It is not feasible to conduct comprehensive inspections of all small deteriorated buildings in Seoul under the current system. Therefore, property owners need to use a self-assessment checklist that is easily accessible without expertise and request inspections from LCSC as needed. Furthermore, by using a rapid visual screening method by FEMA, autonomous districts can easily assess safety performances of buildings and prioritise them. The current primary safety inspection in Seoul also needs to be legalised, similar to inspection of actual status of class-iii establishments under the Special Act on the Safety Control and Maintenance of Establishments. Publicity also needs to be strengthened to instill the awareness that property owners must manage their own buildings.  To revitalise the structural retrofit support program, eliminating financial burden on property owners and adopting an upfront payment method for support costs are suggested. However, selection criteria for the program should be sufficiently strengthened to reduce complaints. Furthermore, IoT sensors need to be installed for vulnerable buildings that cannot be reinforced immediately. By installing sensors to measure building tilt and crack width, risks of vulnerable buildings can be detected, ensuring the safety of property owners and nearby residents. Additionally, it is recommended to enhance the connection with the Seumter (national administration for houses and buildings) and propose advanced features to facilitate registration of inspection results. Mandatory training for inspectors by online lectures and improvements to evaluation indicators for the building safety sector in joint assessments by local governments are also suggested to secure work independence.