80 Vacant Houses to Be Regenerated by Year-End
New Rental Homes for 10,000 Won a Month
Linked to "Small School Revitalization" Project
Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is seeing significant results in revitalizing the region and attracting new residents through a policy that transforms abandoned vacant houses into homes for actual residents.
On August 7, Haenam County announced that it has been actively implementing its vacant house regeneration policy since 2021, and has remodeled a total of 71 vacant houses to date. Of these, renovation of 9 houses is scheduled for completion in the second half of the year, and by the end of the year, a total of 80 vacant houses are expected to be regenerated.
Haenam County is promoting a vacant house remodeling project to attract population inflow and revitalize rural areas. Photo by Haenam County
The renovated houses are provided free of charge for up to five years to return-to-farm and return-to-village residents, young farmers, and rural study families. In addition, starting this year, the county has begun supplying rental homes for a monthly fee of 10,000 won, helping newcomers settle in rural areas at an affordable cost.
Haenam County is actively utilizing vacant houses not merely as targets for demolition or management, but as essential housing resources for local settlement. For rental-type remodeled homes, the county provides up to 50 million won in renovation support, and for owner-occupied remodeled or newly built homes, up to 30 million won is provided. Through these measures, the county is establishing a stable and long-term foundation for rural settlement.
In particular, Haenam County is contributing to the revitalization of rural schools and local communities through its "Small School Revitalization Linked Vacant House Project," which combines education and housing. This project has so far enabled 40 families to relocate and settle in the area, not only increasing population inflow but also enhancing the sustainability of rural schools.
Additionally, in Bukpyeong-myeon, Haenam County, a project is underway to remodel five vacant houses into a village hotel. Local residents are directly participating in the operation of this hotel, which will be transformed into accommodation for tourists. This is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy.
From the end of 2024 to March of this year, Haenam County also conducted a comprehensive survey of vacant houses in all towns and villages, identifying a total of 1,235 vacant houses and establishing a vacant house database. This data will serve as a crucial foundation for future policies, such as selecting renovation targets and operating a vacant house bank. Next year, the county plans to launch a new "Rural Vacant House Bank Support Project" to provide information on vacant house listings and promote private transactions.
A county official stated, "Vacant houses have now transformed from being mere objects of neglect to assets that attract people," adding, "We will continue to expand settlement infrastructure and achieve 'Haenam, the capital of Korea's rural areas' through sustainable development."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
