Seongdong-gu Housing Welfare Policy Evolves... Protecting the Right to Live Healthily in a Safe Home

Investing Approximately 25 Billion KRW in 50 Detailed Projects with 3 Major Goals for Residents' Housing Stability and Quality Improvement
Focusing on Realizing Housing Welfare through Seongdong-type Risk Shelter Management and Home Repairs for the Elderly

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) announced that following last year's comprehensive survey of semi-basement housing and the installation of flood and fire prevention facilities, it will establish and implement a comprehensive housing plan for 2024 to ensure the healthy and safe residential life of Seongdong residents.

To create a "Healthy and Safe Inclusive Housing Welfare City, Seongdong," the district has set goals for the comprehensive housing plan: ▲ Creating a safe and smart residential environment (housing safety) ▲ Providing housing where residents can live with peace of mind (housing security) ▲ Establishing a housing welfare ecosystem that improves quality of life (housing welfare ecosystem). Approximately 25 billion KRW will be invested in 50 detailed projects.

As housing policy demands diversify due to social and economic changes such as low birth rates, aging population, and an increase in single-person households, and as demands for housing performance improvements to respond to disasters caused by climate change increase, the district will promote various customized housing projects to respond to changes in the housing environment and enhance residents' housing rights.

First, the district plans to alleviate housing disparities through the hazardous housing improvement project. Last year, Seongdong-gu became the first in the nation to enact the "Seongdong-gu Hazardous Housing Improvement and Support Ordinance." Based on this, it plans to develop a "Hazardous Housing Guideline" in the first half of this year to specify hazardous housing policies. In the second half, the district will actively establish the "Seongdong-type Hazardous Housing Management System" to discover and improve hazardous housing in blind spots of housing risk. Through this, it aims to create a new model for self-assessment standards and support policies that select households below the minimum housing standards.

The district will also promote projects to proactively address hazardous housing in response to various disasters. In addition to continuing the installation of flood and fire prevention facilities in 2,164 semi-basement units conducted last year, it will implement a zero coal briquette heating project and install sprinklers in old houses to engage in preventive safety management in the era of climate change.

Furthermore, in preparation for entering a super-aged society in 2025, the district will accelerate the creation of a residential environment for sustainable community living (Aging in Place). According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the elderly have a 10 times higher mortality rate and 8 times higher hospitalization rate due to falls compared to other age groups. Accordingly, the district will support housing renovations specialized for the elderly by applying barrier-free and safety designs such as installing slip-resistant facilities, handrails, and removing thresholds in homes where residents aged 65 and older live.

The district will also actively promote housing security projects that allow residents to live with peace of mind. It will supply various rental housing options for vulnerable groups such as low-income households and people with disabilities, provide monthly rent and housing vouchers to homeless youth and low-income groups, and implement a "Hope Housing Ladder" project to help youth preparing for independence and homeless people improve their housing conditions.

This year, special focus will be placed on discovering cooperation and support measures for the supply of rental housing.

Moreover, the district will take the lead in creating a housing welfare ecosystem to improve residents' quality of life. Last year, the district signed agreements with SH Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation, Habitat for Humanity Korea, and Seongdong Fire Station to collaborate on various housing projects. This year, it plans to continue promoting public-private partnership projects, discover local resources, and expand the joint public-private implementation system.

Additionally, the district will operate organizing and storage classes for middle-aged single-person households and provide a wide range of housing welfare services that improve residents' housing quality, such as support projects closely related to apartment living. It will also support the formation of a proper housing culture through projects to revitalize apartment communities and surveys on apartment management conditions.

Based on last year's comprehensive survey of 4,777 semi-basement housing units used for residential purposes in the district, flood and fire prevention facilities and air quality improvement facilities of seven types were installed in 2,164 units. Among 12 semi-basement units judged to be urgently in need of measures due to residential hazards during the survey, one unit underwent elderly-customized hazardous housing repairs, two units were supported to relocate to above-ground floors, and the remaining nine units were safely reinforced by removing risk factors.

The two units that became vacant were rented by the district, remodeled, and are now used as public spaces. In addition, in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity Korea, the district promoted a bathroom improvement project for 39 vulnerable households to raise the minimum housing standards.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "Since the residential environment is the most fundamental factor determining quality of life, we will raise the minimum housing standards in Seongdong-gu and realize a robust inclusive housing welfare city so that all residents can enjoy stable housing rights in a pleasant and safe residential environment."