Gwangju Dong-gu to Carry Out Region's First "Administrative Demolition" of Three Vacant Houses

Exterior view of Gwangju Dong-gu Office.

On September 15, Gwangju Dong-gu District Office announced that it will carry out the region's first "administrative demolition" of three vacant houses that have been left unattended for a long period, posing risks to urban aesthetics and public safety.

This administrative demolition is a proactive measure to ensure resident safety and improve the urban environment. Previously, vacant houses classified as grade 3 and requiring demolition were taken down with the consent of the owners and repurposed as vegetable gardens or parking lots. However, grade 3 vacant houses with unclear ownership could not go through the consent process and were left neglected.

According to the current "Special Act on the Maintenance of Vacant Houses and Small-Scale Housing," if there is a high risk of safety accidents such as collapse or crime, the owner can be ordered to demolish the vacant house. If the owner fails to comply without a valid reason or cannot be located, administrative demolition can be carried out.

Accordingly, for the three vacant houses left unattended due to unknown ownership, the district office proceeded with administrative demolition procedures last month, including publishing a "Public Notice of Administrative Demolition Decision for Vacant Houses" in a daily newspaper. After an appraisal this month, the houses will be demolished next month, and the sites will be converted into gardens and parking lots.

Lim Taek, head of Dong-gu District Office, stated, "Through the administrative demolition of vacant houses, we will remove properties that have long been in a management blind spot, creating an opportunity to promote regional revitalization and ensure safety."