'Abandoned Building → Space for Residents'... Muju Accommodation Facility Reborn After 21 Years

Exterior view of abandoned buildings in Muju-gun, Jeonbuk, and a project bird's-eye view (Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The tourist accommodation facility in Muju, which had been neglected for 21 years, is being reborn as a cultural space for local residents and a welfare facility for the elderly.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 2nd that it has selected the tourist accommodation facility in Muju-gun, Jeonbuk, as an urban regeneration pilot project and will begin the design phase.

The Muju-gun accommodation facility had its construction halted for 21 years, causing issues such as detracting from the cityscape and posing significant safety risks.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Jeonbuk Province, Muju-gun, and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) formed a working council to establish a pilot project plan that considers the development conditions and regional characteristics of Muju-gun.

The site will be developed into a welfare space for the elderly and a community space for local residents, offering various educational programs such as psychological counseling and physical therapy.

Additionally, the existing accommodation facility structures, which are designed to be structurally safe, will be utilized to the maximum extent to reduce construction time and costs, as well as minimize waste generation.

LH, the entrusted operator, plans to complete compensation for the building owner and stakeholders and finish the design within this year, aiming for completion in 2023.

Over the past six years, the Ministry of Land has selected 35 pilot project sites from the first to sixth phases, forming working councils with the respective local governments to monitor project schedules and remove obstacles.

Currently, construction has been completed at three sites: apartment complexes in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and Wonju-si, and a mixed-use commercial building in Ulsan. The Uijeong Hospital site in Gwacheon-si is being developed into an apartment complex. The accommodation facility in Geochang-gun is being redesigned as Happy Housing, and the apartment complex in Jeungpyeong-gun is being redesigned as a Harmony Center and Happy Housing.

Kim Seongho, Director of the Building Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, said, "This pilot project is a representative exemplary case of transforming neglected buildings into welfare spaces lacking in the region. We plan to continue expanding local living SOC through neglected building maintenance projects."