Jongno-gu Hanok Waste Materials: Frugal Administration 'Saving and Reusing' Sparks Attention

Systematic management of Hanok components led by 'Jongno-gu Hanok Demolition Material Recycling Bank' expands scope from Jongno to entire Seoul, deploying experts directly at Hanok dismantling sites to secure quality materials and reduce costs for homeowners.

Cheongjinjeong Pavilion, a Traditional Pavilion in Cheongjin Park

Hanok Demolition Materials inside Hanok Recycling Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is expanding the "Hanok Building Dismantled Material Recycling Project," which uses hanok components that are inevitably demolished due to development or new construction as traditional cultural resources, starting this year to promote hanok architecture.

This project, carried out in connection with the "Jongno-gu Hanok Demolition Material Recycling Bank," which systematically manages hanok components, was previously limited to the local area but has now expanded its scope to "all of Seoul" thanks to budget support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

As a result, this not only resolves the unfortunate situation where well-preserved hanok materials from other areas were treated as construction waste but also enables the procurement of high-quality materials.

The district has also improved the method of securing materials. To reduce the burden on hanok building owners, specialized personnel will be directly dispatched to hanok dismantling sites to select recyclable components and support the construction work.

For hanok demolition material recycling, manual dismantling during construction is essential; however, this process takes more than twice the time and cost compared to general building construction.

Until last year, the district only handled transporting materials that building owners had already removed from the dismantling site to the recycling bank, making it difficult to obtain owners' consent for collection. Consequently, among the 16 hanok buildings dismantled in Jongno-gu last year, cooperation for material acquisition was achieved for only four buildings.

Therefore, starting this year, to reduce the cost burden on owners of dismantled buildings, the district plans to vary the method of securing materials based on the type and quantity of materials. For roof tiles, the district will directly conduct tile dismantling work on-site, and for wood materials, expert consultation will be sought to partially carry out dismantling work if necessary before transporting them to the recycling bank.

Owners who share the intention to recycle dismantled materials from existing hanok can submit related documents to the Jongno-gu Architecture Division or apply directly online.

Whether support is provided will be finally decided after on-site inspection and expert consultation. More detailed information can be found on the Jongno-gu District Office website.

Since February 2015, Jongno-gu has been operating the nation's first "Hanok Demolition Material Recycling Bank," striving to revive the value of hanok, which, despite having sufficient cultural heritage value, is gradually disappearing due to redevelopment or building owners' circumstances.

By establishing a hanok demolition material management system, the district supplies materials to those wishing to build new or repair hanok at prices lower than the market and also provides expert consultation and technical support. Even if the original appearance of the hanok disappears, the materials remain in our lives and residential environments to help continue the excellence and value of hanok architecture.

Moreover, collected hanok building materials are used when constructing public hanok buildings throughout the region. An example of this is the construction of traditional pavilions.

Starting with the traditional pavilion at Waryong Park in 2018, in 2019, pavilions were built at Hyehwa-dong Olympic Memorial National Life Center and Gungjeong-dong Mugunghwa Hill, and in 2020, a resident resting place called "Traditional Pavilion," which fully embodies the beauty of traditional architecture, was established in Cheongjin Park. Approximately 40% of the materials used came from hanok components inevitably demolished due to development or new building construction, resulting in significant cost savings.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, "Since the 5th elected term, we have been promoting projects related to 'Hanbok,' 'Hanok,' 'Hanji,' and 'Hansik' to strengthen the self-sustaining power of Korean culture and have worked to establish a foundation. This hanok building recycling project is in line with that context," adding, "We will continue to devise ways to lead the development of our hanok culture and protect valuable assets befitting Jongno's reputation as the district with the most hanok in Seoul."

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