Gangbuk-gu Launches Systematic Management of Urban Vacant Houses

Promotion of Maintenance Plan Based on Survey Results
Review of Response Strategies by Grade, Administrative Measures, and Utilization of Public Facilities

Gangbuk-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soonhee) is accelerating the establishment of a maintenance plan based on the results of a survey on vacant houses. The district announced on the 29th that it held an interim report meeting on the 22nd, during which it reviewed maintenance and utilization plans by grade, as well as administrative measures, in an effort to develop an effective maintenance plan.

Lee Sunhee, Mayor of Gangbuk District, speaking at the mid-term report meeting on the vacant house maintenance plan. Provided by Gangbuk District.

The meeting was attended by District Mayor Lee Soonhee, district executives, staff from the relevant departments, and representatives of the consulting firm. During the meeting, participants examined policy trends of the central government and Seoul Metropolitan Government, discussed the main characteristics of vacant houses in Gangbuk-gu, and considered directions for their maintenance and utilization. Based on the survey results, vacant houses were categorized into three grades: Grade 1 for houses immediately available for use, Grade 2 for those requiring repair or management, and Grade 3 for those needing demolition or significant maintenance. Response strategies for each grade were reviewed alongside various case studies.

Measures to address residents' concerns about safety, such as the risk of collapse, were also a key focus of discussion. The district intends to encourage voluntary maintenance according to the grade of each property, but in cases where safety concerns are significant, it plans to implement administrative actions such as 'safety orders' or 'administrative demolition.' However, there was also an opinion that, given the considerable differences in conditions for each house, a variety of factors?including the building's condition, location, site characteristics, and road status?should be considered when planning maintenance.

In addition, specific cases were discussed regarding the utilization of vacant houses as community facilities or living SOC (social overhead capital) to expand the district's insufficient welfare and cultural infrastructure.

The purpose of this project is to conduct a thorough survey of vacant houses throughout Gangbuk-gu and to devise maintenance and utilization strategies tailored to local characteristics. 'Vacant house' refers to a house that has not been inhabited or used for more than one year. If left unattended, such houses can cause various problems, including safety accidents and deterioration of the urban landscape. Since Gangbuk-gu has many old houses and is undergoing active redevelopment, the district is pursuing this maintenance plan to address these issues.

The district plans to incorporate the opinions presented at the interim report meeting, as well as feedback collected from residents during the public inspection period, into the draft maintenance plan. After review by the Gangbuk-gu Urban Planning Committee, the district aims to finalize the maintenance plan by the end of next month. Furthermore, information on vacant houses, classified by grade, will be compiled into a list to be shared among relevant departments and actively used as basic data for vacant house safety management.

District Mayor Lee Soonhee stated, "If left unattended, vacant houses can cause not only safety accidents but also various problems such as local decline. Through this maintenance plan, we will establish practical measures to ensure residents' peace of mind and improve the residential environment."

Meanwhile, Gangbuk-gu is also strengthening its response system to ensure residential safety by implementing projects such as the 'Emergency Repair Support Project' for small-scale multi-family housing. In particular, the district is conducting proactive inspections and maintenance, including on-site management of housing redevelopment and reconstruction areas, preemptive checks and measures for private hazardous facilities such as old buildings and walls, and inspections of construction sites that are either ongoing or suspended, especially in preparation for summer weather-related disasters.

Alongside these efforts, the district plans to enhance the safety and usability of the residential environment and create an urban environment where residents can live with peace of mind, through a mid- to long-term strategy linked to the vacant house maintenance plan.