“Homes Overflowing with Clutter”… Gwangsan District Council in Gwangju Implements Ordinance

Expanding Beyond Living Environment Improvements
Enhancing Medical and Psychological Support

The "Ordinance on Supporting Households Suspected of Hoarding," established by the Gwangsan District Council in Gwangju, is producing tangible results on the ground. Households suspected of hoarding refer to those that appear to exhibit compulsive hoarding disorder, excessively accumulating items inside their homes.

Interior view of a suspected hoarding household in Gwangsan District, Gwangju. Various daily necessities and trash are piled up on the floor and throughout the rooms. Provided by Gwangsan District Council

According to the Gwangsan District Council on September 12, the ordinance, sponsored by Economic Welfare Committee Chair Kim Youngsun (Democratic Party of Korea, District Ma), was passed at the 292nd special session in October last year. The ordinance is recognized for establishing a systematic foundation not only for improving the living environments of hoarding households, but also for providing medical and psychological support and linking integrated care services.

In accordance with the ordinance, Gwangsan District is expanding surveys, offering cleaning, disinfection, and counseling support, and building collaborative systems between the public and private sectors. Chair Kim has been monitoring the implementation of the ordinance in the field, and on September 11, visited the site of the 10th support project, participating in cleaning and support activities alongside local residents.

Chair Kim stated, "An ordinance should not merely be enacted, but must become a living system that transforms residents' lives," adding, "I will continue to actively implement measures so that households suspected of hoarding can recover together with their neighbors."

The district council announced that this ordinance is helping to address welfare blind spots, improve living environments, and strengthen the local community safety net, and that it will continue to promote the system's activation.