Apartment complexes are seen from Mount Inwang in Seoul, Nov. 26. Yonhap

Construction plans in Seoul to rebuild decades-old apartments as new high-rise residential buildings face a potential setback, as the Ministry of National Defense is asking to set up air defense systems.

According to the military and industry sources, the ministry is demanding groups of residents planning to reconstruct apartments in Seoul include spaces for anti-aircraft defense facilities.

These groups want their new residential buildings to be taller than 50 stories. The ministry argues such plans can hinder the sight of the current anti-aircraft defense systems located in nearby areas.

These residents are against the ministry's demand, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been arbitrating between the two sides.

The ministry cites a law concerning military facilities, which requires a permit for construction of a building if its height is between 77 meters and 257 meters and is located within an area where cooperation on anti-aircraft defense facilities is mandatory.

The aforementioned groups oppose military facilities being set up on their buildings, arguing it will cause inconvenience for tenants and also lower property values.

Some sources hold the Seoul Metropolitan Government accountable for not accurately stipulating the relevant clauses, when it scrapped a regulation that restricted building height to 35 stories.

Meanwhile, reconstruction projects of high-rise apartments which will be 50 stories or taller are underway in Seoul's Gangnam and Yeouido.

The dispute between the defense ministry and apartment residents is drawing attention online.

One user wrote, “National security should be valued higher than property and the residents should fully cooperate with the military.”

Another user said the city government “should clean up the mess.”