Military Personnel Remain in Official Residences, Paying Fines Instead of Higher Rent for Prime Han River Views and Top School Districts

Despite being reassigned to new posts, a growing number of military personnel are choosing not to vacate their official residences. Instead, they remain in the apartments, paying fines rather than moving out. Critics point out that the delayed eviction management fees (fines) set by the Ministry of National Defense are lower than the local market rates, leading to abuse of official residences as a means of financial gain, a phenomenon now dubbed "Gwan-Tech" (official residence + financial tech).

Apartment image in Seoul to aid understanding of the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to data submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to Kang Daesik, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee from the People Power Party, as of the end of July, there were 14 individuals still residing in a military apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, despite having received eviction orders. This apartment complex consists of 760 units, all used as military residences, and is highly sought after due to its location along the Han River and its excellent school district. Over the past five years, there have been 165 cases of delayed eviction from this complex alone, with one individual staying as long as 644 days after the order.

Under the current "Military Housing Support Project Operation Directive," for Yongsan, classified as a first-grade area, the delayed eviction management fee is 50,000 won per 3.3 square meters (one pyeong) for up to six months after the deadline, and 75,000 won thereafter. For a 32-pyeong official residence, this amounts to 1.6 million won per month within six months, and 2.4 million won per month after that-cheaper than rent for a private apartment of the same size in the area.

Ministry of National Defense Plans Major Fee Hike to Block "Gwan-Tech"

Across Seoul, there are 45 cases of delayed eviction and 90 people waiting to move into official residences. As a result, those who genuinely need these residences are unable to access them. Nationwide, there have been 4,214 cases of delayed eviction over the past five years. In some instances, officers have allowed their families to remain in the official residence while they themselves secured separate single-person accommodations.

Kang Daesik stated, "Military personnel abusing official residences as a means of 'Gwan-Tech' are causing harm to those who truly need them," and called for disciplinary action and measures to prevent recurrence.

The Ministry of National Defense announced plans to significantly raise the delayed eviction management fees by revising the relevant directive in the near future. According to the proposed revision, for a 32-pyeong official residence in Seoul and other first-grade areas, the delayed eviction management fee will be set at 2.4 million won per month for up to three months, 4.15 million won per month for four to six months, and 5.12 million won per month after seven months. Additionally, the ministry stated it would strengthen eviction management by providing advance notice that long-term violators could be referred to a disciplinary committee.