300 billion won worth redevelopment project in Apgujeong 3rd District, Gangnam-gu, Seoul is facing legal disputes from the beginning. As controversies over the floor area ratio, a key element of the project, escalated, Seoul City filed a complaint against an architectural firm. In an unprecedented move, some members of the firm counter-filed a complaint against Seoul City.

On July 11th, Seoul City reported Heelim Architects and Nau Dongin Architects, who participated in the design competition for Apgujeong 3rd District, to the Gangdong Police Station and Seocho Police Station, respectively, on charges of fraud, obstruction of business, and bid interference. The two architectural firms allegedly deceived members of the association by presenting design proposals that did not comply with the floor area ratio specified by Seoul City.

According to the master plan announced by Seoul City, Apgujeong 3rd District in the Apgujeong Apartment Zone is a Type 3 general residential area, with a maximum legal floor area ratio of 300%. Heelim Architects and Nau Dongin Architects consortium proposed a design with a maximum floor area ratio of 360%, a height of up to 70 floors, and a building coverage ratio of 73%, creating a complex without any rental housing consisting of 18 buildings and a total of 5,974 units. On the other hand, Haeahn Architects proposed a design with a maximum floor area ratio of 300%, a height of up to 75 floors, a building coverage ratio of 15%, and 13 buildings with a total of 5,214 units. In response, Haeahn Architects, a competing company, protested, stating that Heelims design distorted the basic purpose of the design competition.

Heelim Architects argued that by applying environmentally friendly incentives and innovative designs, it is possible to increase the floor area ratio.