Despite Construction Completion, Annual Salary of 100 Million Won for 'Cheolbaptong'... Controversy Over Reconstruction Association Chairman

Delaying Union Liquidation to Receive Tens of Millions
Sanctions Possible but Lack Effectiveness
"Thorough Management and System Improvement Needed"

View of the Dunchon Jugong reconstruction site in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. Photo unrelated to the article. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

It has been confirmed that redevelopment and reconstruction association heads who do not dissolve their associations for years after completing apartment construction receive annual salaries of tens of millions of won.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Lee Yeon-hee, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, as of the 29th, there are a total of 122 associations that have completed redevelopment and reconstruction maintenance projects from 2020 to September this year but remain undissolved. Among these, 36 associations completed maintenance projects in 2020 but have yet to dissolve. Subsequently, 31 associations in 2021, 38 in 2022, and 17 in 2023 completed construction but have not dissolved their associations to date.

However, the heads and liquidation representatives of these undissolved associations were receiving an average annual salary of 45 million won. The highest salary among them was found to be 102 million won. Despite the main task of completing the maintenance projects being finished, they were earning tens of millions of won by delaying the dissolution of the associations. Although the Urban Maintenance Act was amended last year to allow sanctions against association heads who delay dissolution, it is reported that the effectiveness of these measures is still insufficient.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that local governments have only conducted 11 cases of supervision and administrative guidance to expedite the dissolution procedures for undissolved associations. It was also pointed out that legal disputes such as lawsuits are causing delays in dissolution. In response, Assembly member Lee emphasized, "Unnecessary costs are incurred due to delays in association dissolution, and some association heads continue to receive high salaries," adding, "Thorough management and institutional improvements are necessary to address this issue."