Abandoned Construction-Halted Motel Transformed into Happy Housing for Newlyweds and Youth

▲ Exterior view of the halted construction accommodation facility in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam (left) and a bird's-eye view of the Happy Housing through the 'Long-term Abandoned Construction Project Plan' (right) (Provided by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] A lodging facility that had been left abandoned for a long time after construction was halted will be reborn as 행복주택 (Happy Housing) and a local community facility.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it has established a 'Leading Project Plan for Long-term Abandoned Buildings with Construction Halt' for a lodging facility (motel) in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, which had been abandoned for 10 years after construction stopped, and will begin design within this year.

The leading project plan for long-term abandoned buildings with construction halt, initiated in 2015, selected a total of 17 sites through local government competitions until last year. Among them, three sites have completed maintenance, one site is under construction, and negotiations with stakeholders for project promotion are ongoing at other sites.

The motel building in Geochang-gun was selected as a target site through the third leading project in December 2017. This building was originally planned as a motel with 50 rooms from basement level 1 to the 15th floor, but construction was halted for over 10 years since June 2010 and left abandoned. It has been criticized for being an eyesore in the urban area, harming city aesthetics, and posing significant safety risks.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gyeongsangnam-do, Geochang-gun, and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) formed a working-level consultative body in January last year and established a leading project plan considering regional characteristics.

According to the plan, the building will be rebuilt as a structure from basement level 1 to the 9th floor. The Ministry plans to complete construction through remodeling without demolition, as the existing lodging facility's framework is structurally safe.

Inside the building, 63 행복주택 (Happy Housing) units will be created targeting newlyweds, youth, and university students, considering the demand for rental housing in the region. A lifelong learning club room facility, operated jointly by local residents and local governments, will also be established to enhance public utility.

Along with the announcement of this leading project plan, Gyeongsangnam-do and LH are expected to sign a consignment business agreement. Subsequently, LH, as the consigned business operator, will carry out the approval process for the apartment project plan and compensation for the building owner and stakeholders. LH plans to complete this process within this year and complete the building in 2022.

Among the total 17 selected sites for the leading project of long-term abandoned buildings with construction halt, eight are public-led maintenance projects, and nine are public-supported self-resumption projects. Among these, three public-supported self-resumption sites, including apartment complexes in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, and a mixed-use commercial building in Jung-gu, Ulsan, have already completed construction with support such as legal assistance and consulting. The Ujeong Hospital in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, which is being redeveloped into apartments after demolishing the existing hospital as a public-led maintenance project, is currently undergoing price review for sale.

Kim Sang-moon, Director of Building Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "This leading project will serve as a model case for the maintenance of abandoned buildings, encouraging systematic maintenance planning and project promotion for various maintenance projects." He added, "With the recent amendment of the 'Urban Regeneration Act,' maintenance projects for abandoned buildings are now included in urban regeneration support targets, enabling public support such as construction cost subsidies. We plan to actively support the discovery and expansion of successful models linked to urban regeneration projects."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.