Manual for Hanok Residents to Self-Maintain to Be Distributed in September
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is creating a ‘Hanok Maintenance Manual’ booklet to help residents of hanok houses autonomously manage, repair, and fix defects in their hanoks. It will be primarily distributed in September to residents of 1,100 registered hanok households across Seoul, including Eunpyeong Hanok Village, Bukchon, and the west side of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
On the 30th, Seoul City announced that due to the complex and unique characteristics of hanoks, residents face difficulties such as lack of repair information and skilled technicians, as well as financial burdens. To address this, the city will strengthen support so that hanok residents can manage their homes independently. The goal is to prevent damage from expanding due to delayed repairs or building neglect, which can lead to defects or safety accidents.
The enhanced support consists mainly of three parts: ? Production, distribution of the Hanok Maintenance Manual and operation of educational programs ? Small-scale hanok repair projects ? Support projects for high-altitude work equipment.
The ‘Hanok Maintenance Manual’ is a customized guide designed to help hanok residents manage their homes independently. It includes highly practical content such as repair methods for each part of the hanok and defect prevention, with many photos to ensure easy understanding even for non-experts. In connection with the manual, videos on hanok management and repair methods will also be produced. Videos will cover frequently needed repairs such as plastering work and wood painting management, enabling residents to maintain and manage their hanoks by themselves. Separate educational programs using the manual and videos will also be operated.
The ‘Small-scale Hanok Repair Project’ is a program that the city has been supporting since 2017 for minor repairs such as roof leaks, wood damage, and plaster peeling. Repairs are provided within a budget of up to 3.5 million KRW without complicated review procedures. From 2017 to last year, a total of 194 hanok repairs were carried out. Applications for the ‘Small-scale Hanok Repair’ can be submitted to the Seoul Hanok Support Center’s ‘Hanok Chul-dong 119’ service.
The ‘High-altitude Work Equipment Support Project’ provides equipment to repair two-story hanoks. Considering the characteristics of Eunpyeong Hanok Village, which has many two-story urban hanoks rather than typical single-story hanoks, the project offers free support of high-altitude work vehicles in the form of ladder trucks that can repair walls and wood on the second floor.
Unlike the typical single-story hanoks distributed in areas like Bukchon, Eunpyeong Hanok Village has many hanoks with short eaves and two-story structures. Due to the structural characteristics of two-story hanoks, wall damage caused by rainwater is frequent. However, it is not only dangerous for residents to repair these themselves but also requires additional labor costs. As a result, repairs have often been delayed, leading to deterioration in appearance and function, and the problem has tended to worsen.
Residents who wish to receive support for high-altitude work equipment can download the application form from the Eunpyeong District website’s notice section by May 10 and apply via email. In-person applications are also accepted. For related inquiries, contact the Eunpyeong District Culture and Tourism Division. Equipment support is planned to be implemented from May 24 to June 25.
Yang Yong-taek, Acting Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Regeneration Office, said, “We will continue to promote proactive support projects so that residents facing difficulties due to the unique characteristics of hanoks can maintain them independently. We will strive to develop hanok architectural culture through policies that are tangible and effective in daily life.” Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, said, “Through cooperation with Seoul City, we expect to support the maintenance of Eunpyeong Hanok Village and promote the region’s unique architectural culture.”
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