Preparation of Utilization Plans for Gangbuk-gu's 'Vacant House Maintenance Plan'

Survey Results Show Total of 180 Vacant Houses... 78.9% Are Detached Homes... Utilization Plans Classified into Grades 1 to 4 Based on Vacancy Status... Including Public Rental Housing, Urban Gardens, etc.

Vacant House in Mia-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Kyumsu) has established a "Vacant House Maintenance Plan" containing the results of a survey on uninhabited houses and utilization measures.

The goal of this plan is to resolve social issues such as safety accidents that are likely to occur due to long-term neglect of old houses and to improve the urban residential environment.

A vacant house refers to a house that has not been inhabited or used for more than one year from the date of confirmation of residence or usage according to relevant laws.

According to the "Vacant House Maintenance Plan" announced on the district website, there are a total of 180 vacant houses in Gangbuk-gu. Of all vacant houses, 142 units (78.9%) are single-family houses, and 31 units (17.2%) are multi-family or multi-household houses. There are no areas where vacant houses are densely concentrated.

Excluding 110 houses located within maintenance zones or scheduled for demolition, the remaining 70 houses are subject to grading based on their vacant status. By grade, there are 28 in Grade 1 (Good), 12 in Grade 2 (Normal), 6 in Grade 3 (Poor), and 24 in Grade 4 (Demolition).

Regarding the utilization plan for vacant houses, among 16 houses owned by Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH), 11 are used for public rental housing such as Happy Housing. The district plans to provide subsidies and loans from the "Seoul Beautiful House Project" to owners of Grade 1 to 3 houses who undertake home repairs. The rest will be encouraged to voluntarily demolish or sell to SH Corporation, and safety measures will be set to remove disaster risk factors.

Additionally, full demolition costs will be supported for owners who decide to demolish vacant houses, and urban gardens and other living infrastructure will be created on these sites.

Park Kyumsu, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, "The Vacant House Maintenance Plan is the first step to breathe new life into these houses and transform them into a pleasant residential environment," adding, "We will promote vacant house utilization plans that create synergistic effects in connection with urban regeneration projects."