Changwon Special City: All Bongam Apartment Complex Residents Wishing to Relocate Have Moved

28 Rental Units Secured
Relocation of 8 Households to Be Completed This Month

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam secured 28 rental housing units for residents of the Bongam Apartment Complex, which received a usage prohibition and restriction rating of E after being in use for over 40 years. This followed the announcement in September last year of restrictions and bans on the use of Category 3 facilities.

Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryeong

According to the city on January 6, eight households expressed their intention to relocate. Of these, five have already completed their move, and the remaining three plan to complete their relocation by the end of January.

Following the emergency safety inspection in September last year, 38 households residing in four buildings (Buildings 2, 5, 6, and 9) that were rated E were provided with new homes through close cooperation with Korea Land and Housing Corporation. Specifically, 20 units were secured at the LH Construction Rental Changwon Gapho 1 Complex, 3 units at the Myeonggok Poellern Rental Apartment, and 5 units at city-owned apartments. Three resident briefings were held to recruit those wishing to relocate.

Among these residents, a significant number demanded "compensation before relocation," so only eight households expressed their intention to move, and relocation is expected to be completed within January.

The city is providing relocation assistance of up to 1.5 million won per household. In December last year, it also signed a "Financial business agreement for Jeonse loan support for Bongam Apartment Complex relocating residents with Kyongnam Bank," offering loans of up to 10 million won per household, covering up to 70% of the required rental deposit.

Additionally, since September last year, the city has sent three official notices urging emergency safety measures and repairs for D-rated buildings and usage restriction notices for E-rated buildings, based on the results of monthly emergency safety inspections. The city has also established cooperative systems with related agencies and has focused all administrative resources on ensuring the safety of residents, including post-management of the facilities.

Lee Jaekwang, Director of Urban Policy, stated, "We will continue to prioritize the safety of Bongam Apartment Complex residents and focus all administrative resources on this issue. For the remaining E-rated households that have not yet relocated, we will continue to encourage voluntary relocation."