"My Entire House Disappeared"... House Demolished Without Owner's Permission Due to Administrative Error

An Error Seems to Have Occurred During the Road Construction Plan Communication
Gijang-gun, "Acknowledges Administrative Mistake, Planning Compensation"

Due to an administrative error, a house was demolished without the homeowner's permission.

The area around Mr. Park Man-jo's (63) house, which disappeared without a trace. Gijang-gun admitted that it was demolished due to an administrative error.
[Photo source=KakaoMap capture]

According to Park Man-jo (63), the homeowner, and Gijang-gun, Busan, on the 27th, Park visited his hometown house located at 266-8, Hak-ri, Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun during last Chuseok and found that the house had completely disappeared.

Despite the shocking situation, Park regained his composure and searched the site again, only to find that asphalt paving work was underway where the house once stood.

The house was built in 1968 and was where Park’s parents had lived. After his parents passed away a few years ago, ownership transferred to Park, and the house remained vacant. Since then, Park had visited the hometown house during holidays or his parents’ memorial days to perform ancestral rites.

Park expressed, "When I went down to my hometown during the holiday, I was very shocked to find the house filled with memories of my parents completely gone."

The reason the house was demolished without the owner’s knowledge was due to an administrative mistake by Gijang-gun.

Previously, Gijang-gun planned to incorporate the house site (33㎡) and land (1㎡) from Park to build a new road next to the house. However, Park opposed the demolition of the house that held traces of his parents and pleaded tearfully.

In response, Gijang-gun decided not to demolish the house and planned to build the road by purchasing only the land.

Later, road construction began in December last year, but contrary to the original plan, the entire house was demolished.

Gijang-gun acknowledged that demolishing a house that was not a demolition target was an "administrative error."

A Gijang-gun official said, "It seems there was a miscommunication due to a change in the person in charge and the passage of time," adding, "We plan to negotiate compensation with the homeowner."

However, it is known that Park is also considering legal action against Gijang-gun and others.

Park lamented, "All the household goods inside the house disappeared without a trace, which is heartbreaking to the point of tears. It is frustrating that I have to prove the items myself to receive compensation."